RAIPUR: No one found guilty will be spared, chief minister Raman Singh says on the Dantewada arson incident in which policemen allegedly went on the rampage in three tribal hamlets of Chhattisgarh. But he is quick to add that the area is not fully under government control.

Reacting to the attack on Swami Agnivesh, Singh said he had warned the social activist against going to Dantewada as there was a possibly of a “people’s outburst”.

“The government will act hard, no one, no policeman will go scot free if the probe report indicts them,” Singh told IANS even as his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government faces possibly its strongest ever criticism since it came into power for the Dantewada episode.

Villagers of Tarmetla and two other nearby tribal hamlets in Dantewada district have alleged that policemen had gone on the rampage between March 11 and 16, burning down over 200 houses, killing people and even raping women.

Singh, however, said Tarmetla was not fully under the government’s control.

“Everyone knows that the Tarmetla area is not under the government’s full control. In recent months police have made some penetration and challenged Maoists who are using local people as a human shield in the battle against police,” the 59-year-old politician said.

Tarmetla, about 500 km south of capital Raipur, is the area where Maoists had massacred 76 security April 6 last year, including 75 of them belonging to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

Singh said the “forces still struggle to enter certain jungle areas in Bastar where Maoists dominate, they have buried landmines, there is always a possibility of civilians coming to harm in the case of crossfire, but the probe report will make everything clear because I too want to know the facts of the Tarmetla arson case”.

Singh, who has headed the BJP government since December 2003 in the country’s worst Maoist insurgency-hit state, on March 24 set up a four-member probe panel besides ordering a magisterial inquiry. Newspaper photographs showed the devastation in the areas.

Singh said the “probe will be completely ‘fair and impartial’. I have transferred the Dantewada collector R Prasanna and senior superintendent of police SRP Kalluri because there was lack of coordination among them and also to ensure that the probe is influenced by anyone”.

He, however, chose to remain silent in the state assembly as the stormy budget session ended Thursday, refusing to make a statement on the Dantewada incident despite the Congress paralysing the house since Monday and terming the incident a fallout of ‘jungle raj’.

Even Swami Agnivesh and some mediamen accompanying him were attacked by a mob in Dantewada March 26 while they were on their way to Tarmetla. Agnivesh was pulled out of his car, manhandled and eggs were thrown at him allegedly by policemen in civilian clothes and cadres of the anti-Maoist militia Salwa Judum. The protesters stoned Agnivesh’s convoy and forced him to return.

Singh remarked: “I provided him full security, I had personally told him before he headed to Dantewada that the area is very sensitive, ‘I will give you (Agnivesh) security cover till the location where we are in a position to provide it,’ I had also told him that people of the area have suffered too many Maoist brutalities, so people’s outburst is a possibility.

“Agnivesh should have avoided going to the media in Raipur and New Delhi about what happened to him in Dantewada, it spoils the atmosphere.”

The Congress had sent a 10-member team of party legislators to Dantewada villages March 29 to make an on the spot assessment but they were arrested in Dantewada and returned without reaching Ground Zero.

Asked why his government was stopping those who wanted to know the truth, Singh said: “It’s not an area you can easily go to, roads have multiple-layer landmines and Maoists are dominant, each time an outsider attempts to go there, police have to go first to open the roads and clear the landmines.”

Readers’ opinions (4)

Recommended (1)

Sid Harth Harth (USA)2 mins ago (02:17 AM)

TOI coverage of this sad incidence is pathetic. The Hindu has not only covered it better but they have taken trouble to send reporters/photographers to investigate as quickly as humanly possible. The comments on this article are also highly biased and pathetic. Forget about your pet project, “aman ki asha.” Dantewada is burning. By the way give your readers some facts. They are available. Just a snippet: “Dantewada is blessed with various mines and minerals. Bailadila contains one of the largest deposits of Iron Ore in the world. The Iron content of the Ore is as high as 68%, which can easily be termed as of world class quality Ore. Similarly deposits like Uranium, Granite, Graphite, Lime Stone and Marble are also found in the district. Dantewada is inhabited by several tribal groups such as Maria, Muria, Dhurwa , Halba ,Bhatra, Gonds. According to 2001 census report, the total population = 353794. Male = 171950 Female = 181844

…and I am Sid Harth

n (blr)3 hrs ago (11:04 PM)

plz god help those innocent people..because we can not do anything..neither our callous politicians…nor the maoist..not the police …not even those arundhati roy and swami agnivesh who wants publicity…Agree (1)Disagree (1)

Conscience (Bangalore)5 hrs ago (08:41 PM)

Now contrast this news with Chidambaram’s hard policy on Naxalism. It is no wonder that there is unrest in the tribal regions.Agree (2)Recommend (1)

VJ (TVM)6 hrs ago (07:34 PM)

Agnivesh should loose his tongue on a landmine,then he will be more kind towards Maoists and other anti-nationals.Fraud swami needs to deported to the bottom of the oceanAgree (13)Disagree (5)Recommend (6)

Twenty days after security forces allegedly burnt about thirty seven houses in Morpalli and fifty homes and granaries in Timapuram in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district, villagers said they were yet to receive emergency rations sanctioned by the district administration.

On March 24, The Hindu reported allegations that a combined team of Special Police Officers (SPOs) of the Chhattisgarh police and the Central Reserve Police Force burnt close to 300 homes, granaries and sheds over the course of a five day operation in the villages of Morpalli, Timapuram and Tarmetla from March 11 to March 16, prompting the then District Collector R. Prasana to send emergency food rations to the affected villages.

Today (Thursday), in a telephone call with this correspondent, a villager speaking on the condition of anonymity as he feared for his safety, said that while food rations had reached Tarmetla, but residents of the interior villages of Timapuram and Morpalli were yet to receive any aid and were fast running out of supplies.

On March 30, the Supreme Court directed food commissioners N.C. Saxena and Harsh Mander to visit the affected villages to inquire into the basis of reports that six residents of Morpalli had died of starvation. The National Human Rights Commission has also directed the Chhattisgarh government to file a report on the incident. However, it appears unlikely that anyone will be able to access the villages anytime soon.

The district police have sealed that sole motorable road leading to the three villages. In the past two weeks, journalists, social activists and even a convoy of 10 Congress members of the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly have been turned back by a hostile crowd of SPOs and members of the Salva Judum, an anti-Maoist vigilante force that the State government claims has been disbanded. The State government’s claims were made in response to a case, pending in the Supreme Court, which holds the Judum responsible for 537 murders, 99 rapes and 103 acts of arson.

Responding to calls that Dantewada had descended into anarchy, the state government transferred Dantewada Senior Superintendent of Police, S.R.P. Kalluri, but locals in Dantewada say the situation is yet to improve. Last week, social activist Swami Agnivesh described the SPOs and Judum as a “Frankenstein’s monster” that the Chhattisgarh police had created and subsequently lost control of. Mr. Agnivesh made these observations soon after he was attacked for trying to deliver rations to the stricken villages.

In an interview with IANS, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh has admitted that Dantewada is not completely under his government’s control and claimed that parts of the district had been sealed by the police for security purposes.

Keywords: Chhattisgarh, Dantewada, Maoist issue

NEW DELHI, March 31, 2011‘Chhattisgarh police claim of encounter with Maoists a hoax’J. Balaji

Comment (1)

Despite Supreme Court order, Salwa Judum is still active

A 13-member fact-finding team that visited Chintalnar, Morapally, Timmapuram and Tadmetla villages of Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh has found that the police claim that they had an encounter with Maoists in the jungles of Dantewada during March second week as “a hoax and far from reality.”

“We have been inside these areas for two days, only to see that there was no ‘encounter’ with Maoists as claimed by the police, which is nothing but a myth propagated by the State to justify these atrocities,” the team said in a report released to the media.

The team said State-sponsored Koya commandos, consisting of former Maoists and tribals, and the “CoBRA” unit of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) went on the rampage from March 11 to 16 in these villages, killing three tribals, raping three women and setting on fire/destroying over 300 houses/huts, granaries and other properties.

“These rampages were done with full consent and active support of the State.” This clearly showed that the Salwa Judum was active and functioning like always. The State’s branding them as “Koya Commandos” was “bogus.” Despite the Supreme Court’s directive to disband Salwa Judum it was fully functional and actively promoted and sponsored by the State government.

The team said the attack by the police forces and the Salwa Judum was heinous and the attack on innocent tribals was done persistently by the State and its mercenaries in the name of “Operation Green Hunt.”

These villages were particularly targeted as they had done alternative development works such as digging ponds, distributing land among the landless, making irrigation facilities which the State had failed to provide.

The Hindu has extensively reported about the atrocities perpetrated on tribals.

The team members, led by C.H. Chandrasekhar, and consisting of social, human rights and civil activists, lawyers, journalists and educationists, among other things, urged the State government to register cases of rape, murder, atrocities and kidnap against the CRPF and Salwa Judum members and provide exemplary punishment for the perpetrators of these acts. The injured should be given immediate medical assistance and medical tests of the rape victims should be conducted.

People who suffered losses should be compensated. The government should immediately disband the Salwa Judum/Koya commandos.

Meanwhile, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), taking suo motu cognisance of media reports on the attack on social activist Swami Agnivesh and his team members on March 26 when they tried to take relief materials to the affected villages, issued notices to Chhattisgarh Chief Secretary and the Director-General of Police, seeking factual reports on the incident within four weeks.

The reports said a large group, comprising special police officers of the Chhattisgarh police and members of the Salwa Judum attacked and manhandled him twice despite his trying to go to the villages with police escort. The Commission said “the entire incident is a matter of great concern.”

Swami Agnivesh had gone there to deliver clothes, blankets and other relief materials to the affected people.

Expressing concern over increasing custodial violence, the Supreme Court on Tuesday warned policemen that such incidents including rape would not be tolerated.

A Bench of Justices Markandey Katju and Gyan Sudha Misra said: “Policemen must learn how to behave as public servants in a democratic country, and not as oppressors of the people.”

Quoting the judgment in the D.K. Basu case, the Bench said: “Custodial violence, including torture and death in lock-ups, strikes a blow at rule of law, which demands that the powers of the executive should not only be derived from law but also that the same should be limited by law.”

Justice Katju, writing the judgment, quoted a Urdu poem — Bane hain ahal-e-hawas muddai bhi munsif bhi Kise vakeel karein kisse munsifi chaahen by Faiz Ahmed Faiz — and said: “If ever there was a case which cried out for the death penalty it is this one, but it is deeply regrettable that not only was no such penalty imposed, but not even a charge under Section 302 [murder] of the Indian Penal Code was framed against the accused by the courts below.”

Appellants Mehboob Batcha, Parthasarathy, Jafar Siddique and Karunanidhi, who were policemen, wrongfully confined Nandagopal in police custody in the Annamalai Nagar station (Tamil Nadu) on suspicion of theft from May 30, 1992 to June 2, 1992 and beat him to death with lathis. They also gang-raped his wife Padmini in a barbaric manner. Both the trial court and the Madras High Court held the appellants guilty and sentenced them to 10-year imprisonment.

Dismissing the appeals the Bench said: “The graphic description of the barbaric conduct of the accused shocks our conscience. We see no reason to disbelieve the wife’s evidence. Ordinarily, no self-respecting woman would come forward in court to falsely make such a humiliating statement against her honour. Crimes against women are not ordinary crimes committed in a fit of anger or for property. They are social crimes. They disrupt the entire social fabric, and hence they call for harsh punishment. The horrendous manner in which the woman was treated by policemen was shocking and atrocious, and calls for no mercy.”Rarest of rare cases

The Bench further said: “We are surprised that the accused were not charged under Section 302 IPC and instead the courts below treated the death of Nandagopal as suicide. In fact, they should have been charged under that provision and awarded the death sentence, as murder by policemen in police custody is, in our opinion, in the category of the rarest of rare cases deserving the death sentence, but surprisingly no charge under Section 302 IPC was framed against any of the accused. We are constrained to say that both the trial court and the High Court have failed in their duty in this connection. The entire incident took place on the premises of the Annamalai Nagar police station and the accused deserve no mercy.”

An investigation by The Hindu reveals the horrific aftermath of a five-day anti-Maoist operation in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district. Photo: Aman Sethi

RelatedSLIDESHOW

Once the raid began, the villagers ran into the forests and returned to find their houses reduced to smoldering ruins. Photo: Aman SethiTarmetla: A village in flames

Three women assaulted, three men killed, hundreds rendered homeless in course of 5 day operation

The operation began in the early hours of March 11 when about 350 heavily armed troopers marched into the forests of Dantewada. They returned to their barracks five days later, with three villages aflame, about 300 homes and granaries incinerated, three villagers and three soldiers dead, and three women sexually assaulted, the victims and several eyewitnesses told The Hindu.

Last week, the Chhattisgarh police said three Koya commandos were killed in a Maoist ambush during a routine search, yet journalists attempting to reach the site were turned away by gun-toting special police officers. On visiting the area through a forest route, this correspondent was confronted by the aftermath of what appeared to be an attack by security forces on three tribal settlements in a 15-km radius of the police camp at Chintalnar, which has left hundreds homeless and brutalised.

The following account is based on interviews with villagers who spoke on the record and senior police sources who sought anonymity to speak freely. The names of victims of sexual assault have been changed to protect their identities.

In the first week of March, the police and the Central Reserve Police Force planned an operation to be conducted by the CRPF’s elite CoBRA battalion and the police’s Koya commandos, a tribal corps of surrendered Maoists and local youth.

A surrendered Maoist had claimed that the guerrillas were running an arms factory at Morpalli, a tour-hour march from the police camp at Chintalnar, a police official told The Hindu. Intelligence inputs indicated that about 100 Maoists, including Jai Kishen, a high-ranking Andhra cadre leader, were present nearby.

“On March 11, about 200 Koyas and 150 CoBRA left Chintalnar about 4 a.m. to destroy the arms factory,” said a police source.

“The force arrived at 8 in the morning and surrounded the village,” said Nupo Mutta, a former sarpanch of Morpalli. “They fired a few shots in the air and we ran into the forests.”

Madavi Sulla, 30, did not act fast enough. “My husband was sitting in a tree picking tamarind,” said his wife Madavi Hunge. “The force saw him and opened fire. I pleaded with them to stop, but they tore my clothes and threatened me.” Hunge escaped. The police moved further into the village, leaving Sulla’s corpse hanging in the tree.

“I was picking ‘tendu patta’ on the fields when the force came and said I was spying for the Maoists,” said Aimla Gangi, 45. “They threw me to the ground, pulled off my clothes and molested me in front of my two daughters. They also stole Rs.10,000 from a bag I kept tied around my waist.”

Villagers say the force left by noon, having torched 37 houses. They also picked up Madavi Ganga, 45, his son Bima and his daughter Hurre, 20. “They took us to the Chintalnar police station and put me in a separate cell and stripped me,” said Hurre.

Hurre said she was kept all night in the station and sexually assaulted. Ganga and Bima said the police repeatedly asked them whether Maoists visited their village and beat them through the night. The Madavi family was released when the women of Morpalli demanded their release at the Chintalnar station.

Police sources say they found neither arms factories nor Maoists at Morpalli that day, though they did find a 15-foot memorial commemorating the death of eight Maoists in the April 2010 encounter, in which 76 CRPF troopers were killed near Tarmetla village.

The operation resumed at Timapuram on March 13. “There was a disagreement because the CoBRAs prefer night operations, and the Koyas wanted to operate in the day,” said a source familiar with the operation, “so the Koyas set out on their own.”

En route, the Koyas stopped at Phulanpad where they picked up Barse Bima and Manu Yadav and took them along to Timapuram.

As word spread of the Koyas imminent arrival, Timapuram’s resident fled to the forests. “The Koyas came to Timapuram about 2 in the afternoon. They set up a camp, killed our chickens and goats and ate them.” said Timapuram resident Madkam Budra.

Budra said the commandos spent the night at Timapuram, a fact confirmed by the police, and installed sentries to ward off a possible Maoist attack.

The Maoists attacked next morning, on Monday March 14. “We knew the Koyas had spent the night at Timapuram and laid our ambush early morning,” said a Maoist fighter who had participated in the attack and met this correspondent on the outskirts of Timapuram late Sunday night. “About 70 Maoists participated in the attack, including Area Commander Ramanna.”

The ambush lasted for two hours. Three Koyas were killed and nine injured. After the Koyas called for reinforcements, a helicopter flew in to evacuate the injured; the Maoists finally retreated by noon. The police and local newspapers say 37 Maoists were killed in the ambush, but a handwritten note sent to this correspondent by the Maoists claims that only Section Commander Muchaki Ganga was killed.

The Koyas spent the night at the village and left next morning, March 15, for Chintalnar. Before they left, villagers say, the Koyas burnt about 50 buildings, including homes and granaries. They also executed one of their captives, Barse Bima, with an axe. “My husband’s hands were tied behind his back, he had been hit with an axe on the base of his neck and twice on his chest,” said Barse Lakhme, who cremated the body.

The other captive, Mannu Yadav, was taken to Chintalnar where, villagers allege, the police shot him and claimed he was a Maoist fighter killed in the ambush. “The body claimed by the police was not a Maoist,” said a senior officer. He said he was tipped off by a Koya. “They killed him because they needed to show something.”

On March 16, villagers say the same company of Koyas surrounded Tarmetla village and burnt about 200 structures, including homes, granaries and woodsheds. Tarmetla’s former sarpanch, Gondse Deva, said the Koyas swept through the village, setting fire to the straw roofs, stuffing burning hay into the granaries, burning food, clothes, valuables, money and keepsakes. “The force has also taken away two men, Madavi Handa and Madavi Aita,” said Deva. “We don’t know where they are, we think they are dead.”

When she heard the commotion, Madavi Hidme threw all her jewellery and money into a bag before rushing for the forests. “I was stopped by four SPOs and beaten with sticks until I lost consciousness,” she said. “When I awoke, I was naked. My bag was gone.” Hidme has been assaulted so violently that a cut has opened up on the left side of her face; she can’t see from her left eye.

Dantewada Collector R.Prasanna is setting up a committee to look into the incidents. “The committee shall be headed by the tehsildar of Konta, along with a representative from the press, civil society and a people’s representative,” he told The Hindu. “We will provide Rs. 50,000 in compensation for each house burnt, and will reimburse villagers for their grains, utensils and other possessions. The committee shall submit its report in one month.”

Director-General of Police Vishwa Ranjan did not return phone calls to his office.

Keywords: police raid, Maoist problem, internal security

Comments:

There has to be some morality in the way the forces behave and operate. This story is a clear indication of how the ‘system’ turns ordinary people into Maoists. Not that I support the activities of Maoists, but I also do not condone, and hope that the people in power also do not, the security forces who act so recklessly.from: mguptaPosted on: Mar 23, 2011 at 01:18 IST

What the hell are these people doing? Is these how our police and commandos behave? If all this is true then no wonder tribals are supporting Maoists. I am ashamed really.from: RPPosted on: Mar 23, 2011 at 03:09 IST

The Hindu is the ONLY newspaper that has boldly come out against the police atrocities happening against the tribals under the pretense of maoist operation. Government has silenced people like Binayak Sen who spoke against this. What a pity !from: DRPosted on: Mar 23, 2011 at 04:07 IST

This medieval approach of security issues happens in many places in India. It happens in Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Kashmir and it is seldom reported. Indian police and para-military are savage and brutal. India needs to grow into 21st century. Besides compensating the people who have suffered, they should also punish those who perpetrated this savagery. I do not like the comment of the “Collector” that they will be compensated and their is no mention of punishment for the beasts.from: Naveed KhanPosted on: Mar 23, 2011 at 04:57 IST

It is a known fact that Tribals and villagers in remote areas have always been treated as third class citizens in their country, without any development for years. However, the recent incidents of violence, killing and pillage of their community will shock any one with a heart to the core. Are we living in a such a brutal democracy where poor people have no right to even live?from: Somu KumarPosted on: Mar 23, 2011 at 05:06 IST

Shame on the Indian government? Human rights is not worth one paisa. I’m ashamed to call myself Indian.from: KarunaPosted on: Mar 23, 2011 at 06:39 IST

Is there anything called “shame” still left with us. What a gory act. Really appreciate The Hindu for bringing this up. As citizens we need immediate action against the perpetrators of the crime, and this should be set as an example for police highhandedness. Whatever happened to the collective conscience of the society?from: raghavanPosted on: Mar 23, 2011 at 08:31 IST

Once again The Hindu did a great job. What a shame on the state police forces. Are these humans? Corrupt government, cruel CRPF personnel..Communist groups with no honest agenda..what is going on in the nation? Government immediately announces compensation.from: AbhayPosted on: Mar 23, 2011 at 08:59 IST

Is this the freedom for which our forefathers fought and died?from: GERSHOM CHELLIAHPosted on: Mar 23, 2011 at 10:30 IST

Helpless fellow Indians.This is just a news for others. But for those who affected is a pain for ever.As usual, the government has running out of back log issues. This would be an additional case..thats all to say.from: RGPosted on: Mar 23, 2011 at 11:05 IST

What is our country coming to? The police force that were meant to deal with the Maoists are actually showing their inability on the villagers. Even without a single thought they are hunting down the villagers and harassing the women folk. Such incidents should be dealt with much more vigor than just reporting them. Where has the Human Rights Commission gone? Don’t they have a say in such grave injustices to mankind. This assault on the lower classes of people do not claim anybody’s attention, but it highlights how the power and authority of the Police personnel and the other forces of the government are being misused for their own satisfaction.from: Shyam VarmaPosted on: Mar 23, 2011 at 11:17 IST

As far as I know it happens a lot of times. However all due to your brave journalists we know this on national level. We do have news papers in the state but they always buckle to corporate interests for they are run by them. Thank you Hindu in you and because of you the journalism is alive and we have hope.from: SaurabhPosted on: Mar 23, 2011 at 11:19 IST

To think that this violence is dished out by the state is incomprehensible. And they wonder why people take up arms to fight back? Good reporting, by the way, by Aman Sethi.from: Rashmi SinghPosted on: Mar 23, 2011 at 12:51 IST

The state acting in disguise of a protector is plundering its own villages. Tarmetla, Dantewada incident on 11th March displays the concealed intention of the state of Chhattisgarh to do away with the tribal population and grab their land for its insatiable hunger for industrial development. It was a commendable job undertaken by The Hindu to reveal the true face of the BJP government in Chhattisgarh. There was no whisper of this cruel incident for twelve days which shows how efficient the government has been in hiding it real agenda. Another report in one of the leading newspapers corroborates it that every attempt was made to dissuade people coming from outside from entering the village. How democratic the state is when it resorts to such technique in portraying the beautiful picture of shining India. The local media is yet to murmur about this rampage.from: mohan shekharPosted on: Mar 23, 2011 at 13:57 IST

This incident is a slam on the Democracy and the Fundamental Right’s of these tribals, which has been enshrined in the Constitution of India. A gross violation of human rights and Article 21. Everyone has to condemn this brutality.from: Yusuf HayathPosted on: Mar 23, 2011 at 14:32 IST

Absolutely awful. Even if these villagers were Maoist sympathisers or active members, the alleged treatment meted out by the security forces is abhorrent. This will just increase the membership of the maoists. Human rights should be observed when dealing with such poor, simple and helpless people. The perpetrators of this crime should be prosecuted.from: Vipul Dave.Posted on: Mar 23, 2011 at 14:33 IST

This is absolutely disastrous and shocking!. First of all I commend The Hindu for bringing out this story as it is risking life and limb. But, it is appalling to read what has happened at the villages in Dantewada, where is the government? Who is controlling these operations? Who has authorised the koya commandos to commit such a barbaric act on their own countrymen?. All these questions need to be answered, The district administration may have taken a step to bring to light the facts of this massacre, but it is not enough.It is heart-rending to see that on one hand India opposes the military action on some other country, but turns a blind eye on its own.from: bharath rPosted on: Mar 23, 2011 at 14:51 IST

I’m shocked and very disturbed on reading this news. I doubt if our country is a democracy anymore. Will these culprits be punished and the victims be rehabilitated? I request this newspaper to follow up on this story and make sure justice is served.from: arunPosted on: Mar 23, 2011 at 15:37 IST

Another Committee, headed by tehsildar and other representatives. Again bribes will be given to the officials, the committee will report that the commandos acted correctly and that will be the end of matter. I am sure none of the “50,000″ compensation will reach the villagers. Instead of giving compensation, the authorities should ask themselves, how can such an incident happen first of all?from: AmyPosted on: Mar 23, 2011 at 15:45 IST

It is always the innocent who suffer. Usually, the Govt. forces vent their anger on the helpless villagers. Rape, torture,torching of houses, etc are the only things they can actual do. No wonder why India sided with Qaddhafi.from: pingmiPosted on: Mar 23, 2011 at 15:47 IST

The policemen committing the crime must be arrested and charged with Rape and murder. The crimes must be investigated by a national committee and all involved in its planning and execution must be brought to justice. It is a shame that the poorest of the poor and the most vulnerable sections of the population are being subjected to rape, murder and terror by the police while the whole nation watches silently.from: RaghuramPosted on: Mar 23, 2011 at 17:57 IST

This is not fair by the police. The police never think about people. What fault of those who lost his home, son, and every thing?from: Vakil AhmedPosted on: Mar 23, 2011 at 18:12 IST

Is this the way government handles the biggest threat to nation? Ashamed of this cowardly act; those people without any basic facilities need to be cared for. Actions like this will definitely increase the strengh of maoists in the region.from: Ezhil JohnPosted on: Mar 23, 2011 at 18:18 IST

So far I was thinking these maoists are really a nuisance, but on reading an article like this, I asked myself, what will I do if I am attacked and tortured and stripped of my belongings – repeatedly for no fault of mine …..I will be pushed to commit the fault, what the heck anyways they are going to attack but now with me wielding a gun , I feel I have power. Great Job Army, CRPF, BSF and Police officers – some of them who do not believe power comes with responsibilities (while I salute many truly serving the country)from: sriramPosted on: Mar 23, 2011 at 18:20 IST

In what civilised society are we living? Are we killing our own people like this for accomplishing what? Humane society has no room for this sort of activitis and every human being will come with out any reservations condemning it.from: praveenPosted on: Mar 23, 2011 at 19:31 IST

These reports of police brutalisation of our very own citizens is shocking and very saddening. Where is the battle to win the hearts and minds of our own people? Those found guilty, and I am sure there will be pressure brought to bear to ensure that at least some are brought to justice, must be given severe penalties to act as a warning to others who might exploit poor villages. The GOI MUST take these issues extremely seriously. They are meant to represent all Indians.from: Samir ModyPosted on: Mar 23, 2011 at 21:12 IST

The state is alienating people each day and brutallythanks to Aman for the report from an area difficult to coverfrom: sreedharPosted on: Mar 23, 2011 at 21:47 IST

Given the circumstances where Indian state machinery kill their own people, no surprise that Indian government did not favour NO FLY ZONE in Libya. There is no democracy in India, rather dictators rule us and loot public money.from: Indian tigerPosted on: Mar 23, 2011 at 21:57 IST

Exellent reportingfrom: snm raoPosted on: Mar 23, 2011 at 22:37 IST

No wonder why movies still show atrocities commited by police on common men. I am deeply hurt and angered by what has occurred to people who are innocent. The gravest of crime according to me is to harm women, how can these commandos sleep at night, won’t they be haunted by what they had done to innocent people. I hope they are duly punished, but knowing our Indian politicians, I am certain that this would never happen and incidents such as these arent the last that we will witness.from: PrasannaPosted on: Mar 23, 2011 at 22:48 IST

The Chhattisgarh Govt. should be immediately dismissed and Central rule should be imposed there. Whether koya commandos or salwa judum, these are just different instruments for implementing organised state brutality. The state govt. is behaving like a warlord who happens to have more arms and men than the maoists at the moment. A search operation by a police force, based on intelligence input, is a legal exercise, but dumping their frustrations onto the hapless tribal villagers by vandalising their properties (whatever little they have) and dignity, speaks of a cheap warlord kind of attitude. The aim seems to be showing the maoists, that the govt can be more brutal than them. Shame on Raman Singh’s Govtfrom: AnirbanPosted on: Mar 24, 2011 at 02:50 IST

More progress as India marches on to becoming a global super power!from: vxpatelPosted on: Mar 24, 2011 at 12:56 IST

Shame on CRPF. This is too much on tribals of Chhattisgarh. Thanks to The Hindu for bringing out the right picture, this will be helpful to get justice to them.from: ASHOK KUMARPosted on: Mar 24, 2011 at 13:15 IST

Congratulations to Mr. Aman Sethi for bringing this out. The State forces stand like an alien invader among its own people.from: Gilbert SebastianPosted on: Mar 24, 2011 at 14:06 IST

Is there anything left to comment? I don’t know how come both sides can justify what they are doing specially how they are doing it. Sometime I wonder this is what I should call ‘India Shining’??from: ChanchalPosted on: Mar 25, 2011 at 18:45 IST

Shameful indeed. We as a country have got out priorities all wrong. What’s the difference between our govt and Libyan ? No wonder India didnt support the military action against Gaddafi and co. With so much pain all around us, we Indians have grown immune to the pain of other people. Kudos to’The Hindu’ for publishing the story. I am sure not many people will bother to click and read it. Any news about cricket World Cup will generate more clicks.from: ManavPosted on: Mar 26, 2011 at 23:23 IST

I would really appreciate if Government of India internal security make a note of these issues and try to initiate some operations. This is the 21 century – enough of fighting and I think all these are encouraged by local politicians. One more thing, if this is has to be stopped the government should be led by educated persons like IAS or IPS officers rather than uneducated politicians.from: RamaPosted on: Mar 27, 2011 at 10:04 IST

The stubbornness of the governments especially Chhattisgarh is responsible for fueling the Maoist activity. Illegal mining, ignoring local welfare may be prominent causes but the way they are dealing with Binayak Sen and people of this village instigates people resorting to violence.Similar pattern can also be observed in JandK.from: RananjayPosted on: Mar 27, 2011 at 10:33 IST

Can anyone tell the difference in treatment of poor tribal Indians by this so-called police and the treatment by police under British rule?from: Yashwanth PPosted on: Mar 27, 2011 at 16:27 IST

What is the National Human Rights Commission doing…it should take suo motto cognizance of such gruesome and gory incident. An appeal to Mr. K.G. Balakrishnan- please act or quit so that someone more competent, credible and honest can look into this.from: Mohan ShekharPosted on: Mar 27, 2011 at 18:48 IST

I congratulate Mr Aman Sethi for this brave piece of journalism. Wish we had more journalists like him in this country.from: KshitizPosted on: Mar 28, 2011 at 00:24 IST

All this naked dance of violence by the very people who are duty bound to protect lives and properties of the citizens of the country is a very serious matter. Where has gone their oaths taken under the Constitution of India? We talk of being the largest democracy of the world but have failed when it matters to the poor innocent tribals who are killed at will. This is not the way to discharge frustration of not being able to go behind the blood of naxalites. It is time for Apex Court to take a suo moto notice of the facts and bring the culprits to justice.from: Pravin PatelPosted on: Mar 28, 2011 at 06:29 IST

The Home Minister of Chattisgarh says it was the Maoists who burn those villages and molested the women, this evidence is contrary; what’s lucid to the ear here confirmed by both the report and the oblivious authority is that the forces were mobilized, which is logical in the loose government’s an-eye-for-an-eye approach. Their strategy basically shouts ‘if the rebels don’t give up arms and since they think hey have some muscle, we use our arms to show our strength’, and if the government thinks the people directly concerned (which I believe everyone should be) don’t hear them, they retaliate ‘the rebels are bad, if you don’t understand that, then we’ll show you how bad they are’. And they did show them, ruthlessly.But the only fault the logic perseveres in is when you ask why resistance takes arms in the first place, when you start to wonder why does this violence exist is when it is utterly devastated.Which essentially pulverizes the point of doing such in the first place. The point still being that there are rudimentary individual rights infringed and livelihoods that are being bloody destroyed. I fail to understand how an elected government chooses such childish measures, I fail to understand how the righteous soldier follows an order playing with human lives like old toys, I fail to understand what the ‘upright’ Naxal rebellion is fighting for in their demonstration of spilling blood and menacing penetration of the gullible mind, I fail to understand the point of having such a government if it not be for the protection of the society. Moreover why are the people of this largest ‘democracy’ quiet in their own mundane lives? I refuse to submit to the idea that nothing can be done about this. Isn’t this enough to wake up from the banal sleep?from: Aman BardiaPosted on: Mar 29, 2011 at 19:27 IST

Commendable piece of Journalism. The Dantewada Collector R.Prasanna says that ‘The committee shall submit its report in one month’. But what about until then? Shouldn’t he be answerable to those villagers whose homes and granaries have been destroyed by the fire. How will they survive until they receive the compensation amount for their losses (even if they do)?from: Xitiz BhatiaPosted on: Mar 30, 2011 at 05:13 IST

What is not understood is to whom these so called special forces answerable to.How come something so crude and incompetent as Koya commandos can be handed responsibility for something do delicate. Moreover it comprises former Maoists themselves. They are just trying to save their asses. Do we even have the same set of laws for urban and tribal people anymore? Why is there no response from the central government on this? Had this been Kashmir, the centre would have been all over this. I am from Assam and I have literally seen the situation in North East becoming chaotic because of this kind of double standards.from: Arun Kumar SinghPosted on: Mar 31, 2011 at 15:50 IST

Hats off to Aman and The Hindu for bringing this news from the villages. Can we belive that we live in society where such acts took place between 11-16 March, it came out on 23 March. Aman this is your real tribute to Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev. Can we believe that even after this came out no one is allowed to enter in the area to meet the affected people and provide the food and other necessary things as relief to the people. Can we believe that a Additional Superintendent of Police, Mr. Maravi accompanying Swami Agniwesh on the order of State Government is not allowed to reach to the people with relief material. And finally ASP Mr. Maravi wanted to lodge an FIR of attack and local police station refused to do so. In this situation reporting from the village Tarmetla is really commendable job.from: RajpalPosted on: Mar 31, 2011 at 18:30 IST

The Hindu A Hindu investigation reveals the horrific aftermath of a five day anti-Maoist operation in which security forces assaulted three women, killed three men and left hundreds homeless in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district. File photo: Aman Sethi

Collector, Senior Superintendent of Police transferred following reports of torching of villages

A large group comprising Special Police Officers (SPOs) of the Chhattisgarh police and members of the Salwa Judum attacked social activist Swami Agnivesh on Saturday as he attempted to deliver relief to a village allegedly torched by security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district.

On March 23, The Hindu published reports and photographs alleging that SPOs had torched about 300 homes, granaries and wood-sheds, killed three men and sexually assaulted three women during a five-day anti-Maoist operation in the villages of Tarmetla, Timapuram and Morpalli.

Since then, the district police had sealed off the three villages and intimidated journalists who tried to visit them.

On Saturday, Mr. Agnivesh was to deliver clothes, blankets and other relief materials to the affected villagers when he was attacked twice in six hours by a mob at the Salwa Judum camp at Dornapal.

(The ‘Salwa Judum’ refers to a controversial tribal vigilante group, armed, trained and assisted by the Chhattisgarh government in its battle against the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist). A public interest litigation, currently being heard by the Supreme Court, holds Judum members responsible for 537 murders, 99 rapes and 103 acts of arson.)

“Relief material seized”

In a telephone interview, Mr. Agnivesh said the first attack occurred early in the morning when a crowd of SPOs and Judum members surrounded his vehicle, pelted him with raw eggs, knocked off his turban and pushed him around. Reporters at the spot were also manhandled by the crowd. In a dispatch filed from the spot, Joseph John of the Indian Express reported that the crowd accused Mr. Agnivesh of turning a blind eye to the plight of victims of Maoist violence.

“They seized all the relief material intended for Tarmetla,” said Mr. Agnivesh, adding that he then returned to Sukma and telephoned Chief Minister Raman Singh for assistance.

In February this year, Mr. Agnivesh was instrumental in securing the release of five policemen kidnapped by Maoists.

Sources in the security establishment told The Hindu that the 150th Battalion of the CRPF was called in to protect Mr. Agnivesh.

The CRPF was in place by afternoon, when Mr. Agnivesh attempted to visit the affected villages once more. “Despite security assurances by the Chief Minister, we were attacked by a crowd engineered by the Salwa Judum and SPOs,” said Mr. Agnivesh, adding that his vehicle was stoned and he was forced to return.

Reporters at the site said a crowd of nearly 2,000 people at Dornapal attacked mediapersons and broke several cameras. Eyewitnesses said Naresh Mishra of the television channel Zee 24 was among those beaten.

“The police have created a Frankenstein’s monster that they cannot control,” said Mr. Agnivesh. “This was an attack on the administration by an unaccountable lynch mob.”

Reacting to the events of the past three days, the Chhattisgarh police transferred S.R.P. Kalluri from his post as the Dantewada Senior Superintendent of Police. “Mr. Kalluri was transferred to allow for an independent inquiry into the recent allegations,” said Director-General of Police Vishwa Ranjan, “He will take up duty as Deputy Inspector General, Surguja.”

Mahasamund Superintendent of Police Ankit Garg shall take over as Dantewada SP.

The attack on social activist Swami Agnivesh by Chhatishgarh special police forces and its pet organisation Salwa Judum shows how intolerant and authoritarian could become BJP government led by Raman Singh. This is direct attack on democratic fabrics in the country. It also indicates further that how brutal is Chhatishgarh BJP government in silencing the voices and attack on right and liberty of the people of the country! Apart from exposing BJP, it has also proved how it was biased against Dr Vinayak Sen, who was working there as social activists in treating poor tribals and got them jailed on the charge of sedition. If the voices of poor and their sympathisers are silenced in such fashion then what is need of democracy and people have every right to wage relentless war against state terror.from: krishn kumar singhPosted on: Mar 27, 2011 at 12:38 IST

Where did BJP come from… since when can a state Govt. deploy army or send in commandos? This is done by Congress+BJP. The only difference is that Congress does not even bother about the health of the Golden Goose.from: SubramaniPosted on: Mar 28, 2011 at 21:05 IST

Two days after The Hindu reported that security forces had burnt close to 300 hundred homes and granaries in three villages in Chhattisgarh’s violence-wracked Dantewada district, Special Police Officers (SPOs) of the State police assaulted a truck owner for delivering emergency rations to the affected villages.

According to eyewitness reports, a tribal police corps known as the Koya commandos conducted a five day anti-Maoist offensive from March 11 to March 16 in Dantewada’s Konta block, in the course of which they reportedly burnt about 300 buildings, sexually assaulted three tribal women and killed at least three men (two more are missing) in the villages of Tarmetla, Timapuram and Morpalli.

Yesterday, Dantewada District Collector R. Prasanna constituted a five-member inquiry committee and announced that the district administration would deliver emergency rations of grain, clothes, and cooking and edible oil to the affected villages. However, SPOs at the Salwa Judum camp of Dornapal allegedly assaulted truck owner Kapur Chand Rajput and accused him of aiding the Maoists.

“This morning, the Collector [Dantewada] and Commissioner [Bastar] requisitioned my truck to deliver rice and blankets to some interior villages. As soon as the trucks left Dornapal, an SPO leader called Surya accused me of sending food to the Maoists, threatened me and beat me with the butt of his rifle,” said transporter and Congressman Kapoorchand Rajput.

“Surya said ‘The collector is a Maoist, the commissioner is a Maoist’. How dare you send your truck’,” Mr. Rajput said, adding that Mr. Surya pointed his assault rifle at Mr. Rajput and threatened to kill him.

According to a March 23 report in the Times of India, TOI reporter Supriya Sharma was prevented from visiting the affected villages by the district police on grounds of ‘security’.

Dantewada Collector R. Prasanna said he had received Mr. Rajput’s complaint and said he would investigate the matter. He refused to comment on Mr. Surya’s alleged remarks. Mr. Prasanna said that the rations had reached Chintagupha village and would be distributed to the affected villagers today and tomorrow.

In zero hour at the Chhattisgarh Vidhan Sabha yesterday, senior Congress leader and five time MLA from Kharsiya, Nand Kumar Patel, cited news reports to draw attention to the acts of arson in Dantewada and demanded an explanation from the government. “This is a grievous crime,” said Mr. Kumar, “It has been 10 days since the incident but the government is yet to determine exactly what happened on March 11.”

Keywords: Maoist issue, Chhattisgarh, Dantewada district

Jagdalpur, March 23, 2011Police ‘attack’ on Chhattisgarh villages to be probedAman Sethi

The Hindu A woman sits outside her house amidst her ruined possessions. Eyewitnesses accused Chhattisgarh’s Koya commandos and the CPRF of burning homes, sexually assaulting women and executing three men in Chhattisgarh’s tribal villages. Photo: Aman Sethi

The panel shall consist of two government officials, a lecturer from a government college and two independent members.

The Dantewada Collector R. Prasanna has announced a probe into allegations that the district police and central paramilitary forces burnt homes, molested three women and killed at least three men in a five military operation in March.

On Wednesday, The Hindu and Rajasthan Patrika carried news reports in which eyewitnesses accused Chhattisgarh’s Koya commandos (an armed tribal police corps) and the Central Reserve Police Force of burning over 300 homes and granaries, sexually assaulting women and executing three men in the tribal villages of Timapuram, Morpalli and Tarmetla between March 11 and March 16.

The panel shall consist of two government officials, a lecturer from a government college and two independent members.

“We have set up a five member panel comprising Mr. Suresh Mahapatra, editor of local newspaper, Bastar Impact, Ms. Ratnabala Mohanty, a lecturer at Dantewada Post Graduate College, and the Head of a local NGO Pragati Prayas, Mr. Narendra along with the Tehsildar and Sub Divisional Magistrate of Knota block to inquire into the incident,” said Mr. Prasanna over the telephone.

Mr. Prasanna said that the panel had been asked to report their findings in the following fortnight and that compensation to violence-affected families would be paid by the end of the month.

Acting on media reports that security forces had burnt granaries, Mr. Prasanna said that the administration was also sending rice, pulses, edible oil, clothes and fuel to Tarmetla village.

In a telephone conversation, Chhattisgarh Director General of Police, Vishwa Ranjan ruled out instituting a parallel police inquiry into the incident. “My people on the ground do not agree [with the media reports],” said Mr. Ranjan.

The Hindu A villager’s home ravaged in the fire and raids in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district between March 11 and March 16. Besides their homes, Tarmetla residents lost most of their possessions to the fire. Photo: Aman Sethi

A week after The Hindu first published allegations that security forces burnt close to three hundred homes, sexually assaulted three women and killed at least three men (two are still missing) in three villages in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district, the State government finally broke its silence and blamed the atrocities on Maoist guerillas.

Speaking in the Vidhan Sabha, Chhattisgarh Home Minister Nankiram Kanwar admitted that 327 troopers of the Chhattisgarh Police and Central Reserve Police Force conducted a five day area domination exercise from March 11 to March 16 and raided the villages of Morpalli, Timapuram and Tarmetla; but claimed that, in each instance, the security forces were ambushed by Maoists who burnt the villages and escaped in the ensuing confusion.

Rejecting the Home Minister’s explanations, the opposition held Chief Minister Raman Singh personally responsible for the incident and boycotted the Vidhan Sabha for the day.

According to Mr. Kanwar’s statement, the security forces raided Morpalli village on March 11 this year, when they were attacked by Maoists. The Maoists then allegedly set fire to a number of homes and escaped. Citing the testimony of one Madavi Ganga of Morpalli village in this regard, Mr. Kanwar said a case had been registered in the Chintalnar Police Station.

On March 20, this correspondent interviewed Madavi Ganga of Morpalli. As reported in The Hindu on March 23, Mr. Ganga said the police picked him up, along with his son and teenaged daughter, on March 11 and took him to the Chintalnar police station where he was held overnight and repeatedly beaten.

His daughter said she was kept in a separate cell and was sexually assaulted by policemen. The Madavi family said they were released only when the women of Morpalli surrounded the Chintalnar police station and demanded their release. This correspondent visited all three villages where eyewitnesses claimed that their homes had been burnt by Special Police Officers (SPOs) and Koya commandos of the Chhattisgarh police.

Mr. Kanwar claimed that a similar pattern of ambush and arson was witnessed when the security forces raided the villages of Timapuram and Tarmetla, where the Maoists surrounded the forces, killed three SPOs and set fire to the villages.

In each case, the Home Minister said that police cases had been registered at the Chintalnar police station. However on March 23, a week after the alleged crimes, Dantewada’s Senior Superindent of Police, S.R.P. Kalluri told IANS that he had no knowledge of any incidents in the area, claiming, “It’s all Maoist-propaganda, nothing happened there.” Mr. Kalluri has since been removed from his post and transferred to Surguja.

In the Vidhan Sabha, the Leader of the Opposition Ravindera Chaubey, refused to accept the Home Minister’s statements. “No one from the administration has been able to visit the site. How can we believe this?” he asked.

CHANDIGARH: Visiting Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani particularly relished the Amritsari delight, phirni, after savouring taar korma and paneer at the luncheon hosted for him at the Taj hotel in Chandigarh. Later, at the dinner with his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh organized at Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) stadium, he enjoyed barra kebab.

After landing at the Chandigarh airport around 12.25 pm, Gilani and the delegation accompanying him went straight to Taj hotel, where arrangements for his stay had been made.

Sources said an elaborate spread was laid for Gilani under heavy security arrangements but he relished two dishes — taar korma and the sweet phirni made of milk, sugar, rice and khoa, which is quite popular in the border city of Amritsar.

“The dish is very popular among Pakistanis and most tourists from across the border make it a point to taste it here. Phirni has stood the test of time and is served only before extreme summer sets in. The dish cannot be served chilled and the temperature at which it is served is the key. A dash of kesar can give it a tempting flavour,” said Balraj Ahuja, who has been selling phirni since 1954 near Lohgarh Gate in Amritsar.

“Phirni is associated with Holi and can be found even in neighbourhood dairy shops in the holy city before and after the festival. It is hard to find the creamy rice dessert in Malwa and Doaba regions of Punjab,” said Neeraj, a resident of Ranjit Avenue in Amritsar.

The mouth-watering gulukand ka kalakand and kesari phirni were also included in the menu for the dinner served to the two prime ministers at Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) stadium, besides gosht barra, tandoori salmon, chops biryani and bhindi naintara, said sources.

After the lunch, Gilani went to watch the semi-final at the PCA stadium in Mohali. He returned to the hotel in the evening to take some rest and again left for the match around 7 pm. “When I got a chance to have a quick word with the visiting PM during dinner, I told him that I had specially visited the Food Street in Lahore to get the right flavour of barra kebab and he told me that it reminded him of the way it tasted with its traditional recipe back in Lahore,” said Anil Malhotra, manager, Taj hotel.

Thank youWe appreciate you taking time to post your opinionon this article.You might also like to read what others have to say on this article.

What no Falooda?

Falooda or Faluda (Urdu: فالودہ) is a popular and traditional cold dessert or beverage in South Asia made primarily by mixing rose syrup with vermicelli and tapioca pearls along with either milk or water.[2] Falooda is an adaptation of the Persian dessert Faloodeh and was brought to the Indian subcontinent during the Mughal period. Basil seeds (sabza/takmaria), tutti frutti, sugar, and ice cream may be added. However, it is not the same as the faloodeh made in Iran and Afghanistan. The vermicelli used is often made from arrowroot rather than wheat. The rose syrup may be substituted with another flavoured base to produce kesar (saffron), mango, chocolate, and fig Falooda.

Falooda is a summer drink throughout Iran, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and the Middle East and is readily available in hotels and on beach stalls. A variant is falooda kulfi, where falooda and kulfi are served together with a syrup.

A famous type of Falooda, named the “Andrea”, involves mixing various different rose syrups with creamy milk and premature tapioca pearls.

Prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani was not offered the best of the best Mughlai/Turki dessert. No ‘gulkand’? No ‘gulab jamun’? No ‘kalakand’? No nothing that sweetens the mouth with aroma that lasts forever?

I take this opportunity to invite him to my home. Perhaps not, as he may never leave our dining table.

Pakistan’s PM Yousaf Raza Gilani (L) shakes hands with his Prime Minister Manmohan Singh before the start of the ICC Cricket World Cup semifinal match between India and Pakistan in Mohali. (Reuters Photo)

CHANDIGARH: Faced with seemingly insurmountable problems on the domestic front, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh took the diplomatic initiative of a re-engagement with Pakistan at Mohali stadium on Wednesday. The initiative appeared to have paid some dividends because the dialogue process between the two countries would henceforth acquire some momentum. ( Read: Fever catches on: Cricket diplomacy finds resonance in distant Tanzania ) ( Read: Manmohan’s Mohali hunch pays off ) ( Read: Cong hopes to bury ghosts of Havana, Sharm-el Sheikh )

Not that the Singh-Yousaf Raza Gilani meeting was followed by any major announcement. It was described as not really a dialogue but informal conversations between Singh and Gilani. During the unstructured talks, Singh touched upon a large number of issues that are yet to be resolved between the two countries. The meeting, it was claimed, was wide-ranging and covered a large number of issues, including those concerning the economies of the two countries. ( Read: Gilani bats for peace, calls tie a victory for cricket ) ( Read: Hours before summit, VOIP call sparks security scare )

In fact, a beaming Singh looked in control as he stepped out in the company of his Pakistani counterpart to be introduced to the teams before the match began. Earlier, Singh had received Gilani at the Punjab Cricket Association ground. The two leaders were greeted by ICC chief and Union Minister Sharad Pawar and gifted plaques.

Singh’s was an abrupt move to invite the Pakistani leaders over for an informal round of talks. There was criticism that the emphasis on diplomacy could play spoilsport and shift the focus away from the cricket match. The PMO had been jittery about the informal dialogue receiving a more-than-necessary coverage by an intrusive media.

But the broadcasters obliged this afternoon when the TV camera completely avoided the VVIP enclosure at the Punjab Cricket Association Ground. Once the match began, the two leaders had enough time to themselves apart from applauding the odd boundary or the fall of a wicket. It was only at the end of the match after the last Pakistani wicket had fallen that the cameras showed the two leaders seated next to each other.

It was during the first 90 minutes of the semifinal when the two leaders were left alone that the Prime Minister raised various issues he had in mind. It was that interesting phase of the match when Sachin Tendulkar was teasing the Pakistani fielders with quite a few chances. It was at that time that Singh got his opportunity to sound out Prime Minister Gilani and elicit his views on a number of pending issues.

Singh left the venue a little after 4 pm before Yuvraj Singh was bowled by a Wahab Riaz yorker. He spent the rest of the afternoon at Raj Bhavan in Chandigarh. Gilani, too, moved out of the VVIP box half-an-hour later and left for Taj Chandigarh where his accommodation had been arranged. Long before dinner began, the two leaders had already shared their thoughts. These wide-ranging conversations were not meant to accomplish anything more than that.

The conversations did not really achieve any major breakthrough. But could act as a catalyst and help strengthen the dialogue process. It is quite likely to be touted as a modest diplomatic triumph.

Comments (30)

Recommended (7)

Raj (India)8 mins ago (07:22 AM)

The talk was nothing but a wastage of time and money by Man Mohan. Besides, durign the Dinner, Sonia was sitting right next to Pak PM and Man Mohan somewhere. It means the Sonia was leading the country and not Man Mohan. This shows that Man Mohan is nothing but a servant to Sonia. Man Mohan really does not deserve to be the PM as he can’t maintain the dignity of the office of the PM.Agree (1)

Kalidas (USA)25 mins ago (07:05 AM)

The problems will remain unsolved not because of lack of commitment on the part of the leaders between the two countries Mostly,the compromising attitude on any particular stance will lead to severe criticism from within the political system itself.But cultural and sport events will provide a chance for leaders to relax ignoring the problems between themselves.I thought of seeing news item extending similar courtesy to Srilanka leaders also !Disagree (1)

Gill (Haryana)31 mins ago (06:59 AM)

TOI – It does not matter that there was no breakthrough on talks between the two PM’s. Normalisation of friendship with an enemy nation in family will take time and will not happen overnight. Afterall, the WC set the stage to showcase the dialogue between India and Pakistan. PM MMS did play the ball of Gilani as promised before and after the WC semi-final match, hoping to draw some resolutions from talks. Now that the match is over, MMS would once again play with Gilani’s ball in the VIP room before he departs back to Pakistan. India’s win is a pride for all Indians.Agree (1)Recommend (1)

rocky.dugal (Delhi)49 mins ago (06:41 AM)

It is a state policy of Pakistan to use jihadis to keep India unstable and use Taleban to do the same to Afganistan. Kargil war was a proof of the former. Haquani network is a proof of the latter. I think Mr Singh is barking up the wrong tree.Agree (3)Disagree (2)

Shueb (Bangalore)2 hrs ago (05:25 AM)

Manmohan Singh should get the credit for this master stroke invitation, hope Pak addresses the issue of terrorism against India.Agree (6)Disagree (9)Recommend (2)

SIVARAMAKRISHNAN (CHENNAI)2 hrs ago (05:17 AM)

Waiting for the day when some leader ( a leader with vision, courage & majority support) break the logjam and solves the Kashmir problem once and for all.Agree (7)Disagree (2)Recommend (6)

Vilas (India) replies to SIVARAMAKRISHNAN28 mins ago (07:02 AM)

What is a Kashmir Proble,? For India the problem is that pak has occupied 1/3 ed of Kasmir. And for Pak India has occupied 2/3 ed of kashmir. Now since you an Indian I assume you dont mean that Indian leader shoudl give up Kasmir to pak to solve the problem? Or you mean to say there will be an Indian Leader who will go to war and win over Kashmir? Just dont write moronic posts give your ideas. I hope you are a good indian with wrong Ideas and a congresswala. You want Kashmir problem to be solved give your idea how to solve it and all of us will follow it if that is pragmatic.

Pmg (Mannar Allapuzha Kerala India)2 hrs ago (04:54 AM)

dear on line editor, People in India NEVER thought that there will be any results in this move but political propaganda for the punlic Unless Pakistan Giverbnent realise their initial faqukt and try to rectify this errir no prgress can be expected.What is required is a under standinf of the ussye and a change if basuc under standing anfd develop a mind to solve this ussue Dr Man Mohab singh usunder the wrong impression when Yusaf Raza gilanee meet and Similarly unless Gen Ashfaq Oerves Jatabu abd Ubtekkifebr Boss Lt Gen Shuja Oasha hiun in the talk and give their vlieesings there will be NI Advance in this subject Oajkistan is tules ny nilitary only militayactin will only create any change and thismust be under stood by Indian polkitical leaders dated Thursday March 31st 2011 tune 0455HRS IST AMAgree (1)Disagree (1)

Lpais (Miami)2 hrs ago (04:40 AM)

If the people and leaders of Pakistan and India can set aside their differences for a day, or a week, it clearly shows that they can keep that peace over longer periods of time. There is no reason why both our countries cannot live in peace side by side. Both countries have good people on both sides.Imagine the possibilities. Both enjoying economic prosperity and lots more cricket.Agree (1)Disagree (2)Recommend (1)

vilas (India) replies to Lpais12 mins ago (07:18 AM)

Indian is a democratic country working for uplifting the ppor and has made a lot of progress. on the other hand Pakistan does not belive in democracy as it belives in Islamist philosophy.How can a democratic state and a theological state come togetehr and solve the problems? Democracy can not succumb to Islamist ideas and Islamic state will never become modern 21st century state so the idea of permanant solutuin is a dream.

Bharath Tejasvi (USA)3 hrs ago (04:21 AM)

On a lighter note, I feel it was a good move by our PM to make sure there were no terrorist attack at the venue with Pak PM in the audience. ;-)Agree (13)Disagree (3)Recommend (5)

kishore (perth) replies to Bharath Tejasvi19 mins ago (07:11 AM)

wow! such an excellent thought lol !!!

an (India) replies to Bharath Tejasvi37 mins ago (06:53 AM)

This was a class observation. Cheers.Agree (1)Disagree (1)

suneil (holland) replies to Bharath Tejasvi2 hrs ago (04:56 AM)

good said man, haha, u r so right bcs why the hell should india reach out to a country who is attacking us on yearly basis.Agree (2)Disagree (1)

p kumar (pune, india)3 hrs ago (03:45 AM)

no talks till 26/11 victims get justice…i think life in india has become soo cheap tat even the government does not care abt its people.Agree (2)Disagree (1)

Govind (UK)3 hrs ago (03:38 AM)

Pak PM is already unhappy that Indians won the match. How do u expect a break thro. Pakis will only break his spine if he comes down on kashmirAgree (2)Disagree (1)

Netaji (Lajpatnagar)4 hrs ago (03:26 AM)

Nobody is expecting any breakthroughs. They used our money(for food, fun, security etc etc) to see the cricket match. That is all.Agree (21)Disagree (18)Recommend (9)

Arsio (Pakistan) replies to Netaji2 hrs ago (05:00 AM)

Thats a messed up thing to say. Im pakistani and i think India did a very good job playing and earned their way into the final. On the other hand our two leaders sat down as brothers and made a good start so take your hate to CNN or Fox that where you belong:) troll!!!!Agree (11)Disagree (3)Recommend (1)

T (does it mater?) replies to Arsio1 hr ago (05:36 AM)

We’ve made plenty of starts. They come to an abrupt end after a terrorist organization harbored by the ISI attacks and takes innocent Indian lives. So you take your ‘compassion’ somewhere else.Agree (2)Disagree (1)

VS (USA) replies to Arsio2 hrs ago (05:23 AM)

Arsio, Duh!!!???Agree (2)

arshad (uk)4 hrs ago (02:58 AM)

singh invited gilani because the trouble he’s in, in parliament and because india is after a permanent seat at the united nationssAgree (14)Disagree (9)Recommend (5)

suneil (holland) replies to arshad2 hrs ago (04:59 AM)

so paki should give un permission for permanent seat? how come a terrorist state deides for a democraic state?Agree (1)Disagree (1)

He is not a opportunistic person. He like both countries to have good and friendly relationship which never been achieved because of extremist views of people like you.I share PM view of pakistan because I have some friends in pakistan which are not different than me in any aspect. Do you really think it is because of UN permanent seat” to which US has already endorsed with Obama visit. Think again and think wiselyAgree (1)Recommend (1)

Gurukanth (Manipal)4 hrs ago (02:47 AM)

All of us knew from the beginning that cricket diplomacy does not work..it was foolish to even think that there would have been any progress in the talks..Pak just wants to act like they are interested in peace talks when actually they are a state which sponsors terrorism..(the overwhelming evidence for this being bomb blasts which have occurred in Mumbai 93, Delhi, Bangalore, Pune, Parliament attack, Attack on akshardham temple and 26/11 mumbai. What are we still waiting for when Dawood and Rehman Lakhvi are still roaming freely in that country??Agree (1)

Hari (USA)4 hrs ago (02:40 AM)

Ha Ha Ha, what you stupids expected miracle, Congress party is fools to expect some thing form this kind of talks. Wast for time, wast of money.

indian (india)5 hrs ago (02:24 AM)

why the prime minister of a super power country had the need to call a summit in the midst of a power ful game . congratulations to the indian press that they completely ignored all the political and invited dignitaries. it was nice to see sonia gandhi, and her son smiling for a change. it is great that media did not cover any of the political functions as the congress party wanted to use this test match to boost their ever so low popularity. now the primeminister should invite the president and prime minister of sri lanka as well and see if his party popularity inctreases.mr. prime minister if you want your populariyy to increase then take a lesson from indian team ,work hard , work honestly ,dump the foreign persons influence and admit all the bad things done by your party.punish the guilty and stop the blame game especially on hindus and hindu related parties. if you want to disappear like pakistani cricket team then off course continue what ever your party chief tells you to do . you are a captain of india then act like dhoni .no body can say any bad things about you because you are honest man ,sir. so dont take orders from your bosses . you are the real boss.

krg (dubai)5 hrs ago (02:07 AM)

congrat. india and thanks to cricket which force us to talk . hope there should not be kargil or 26/11.Agree (22)Disagree (6)Recommend (10)

pk (India (in my heart)) replies to krg3 hrs ago (04:01 AM)

you hope but i demand that there be not another Kargil.Agree (1)Disagree (1)

lol (Delhi) replies to krg4 hrs ago (03:02 AM)

If there is another Kargil.. ur POS nation will stop existing. Mark my words.Agree (1)Disagree (1)

DAR-ES-SALAAM: Cricket diplomacy is infectious. While Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was ushering his Pakistani counterpart Yousaf Raza Gilani into the Punjab Cricket Stadium in Mohali, faraway Tanzania, east Africa, too witnessed camaraderie between diplomats of the south Asian neighbours.

In Dar-es-Salaam, which views cricket with as much mystification as do many parts of the world, Pakistan’s envoy, Tajammul Altaf, pulled off his own version of cricket diplomacy.

Along with the local Pakistani community, Altaf invited the Indian high commissioner K V Bhagirath and a group of visiting Indian journalists and Indians residing here to a cricket party. For a moderating influence, the new Turkish ambassador, who preferred to concentrate on the food, was also roped in to join the festivities.

Bhagirath, a cricket aficionado, was palpably excited: “I hope it’s an exciting match which we win in the end”. Altaf took a more political approach: “It’s immaterial who wins or loses. What’s important is that it is the start of a new page in our bilateral relationship.”

ith excitement running high at the Red Onion restaurant in downtown Dar, Pakistanis and Indians tried hard to be gracious when the other side scored — they succeeded for the most part.

The 3000-strong Pakistani community in this part of the world dominates in transport sector, said Shakil Ansari, head of Pakistan Social Community. Indians are big traders, industrialists and new entrepreneurs, building upon over 100 years of presence in east Africa. Prominent among the Indians here is Ashwin Sampat, unofficial distributor of Times of India in Tanzania. “I import half-a-ton of newspapers every week,” he said proudly, adding that TOI’s demand has risen over the years. If cricket triumphs today, diplomacy even in Africa would have played a part.

Manmohan’s Mohali hunch pays offTNN | Mar 31, 2011, 03.52am IST

Comments (3)

Tags:Yousaf Raza Gilani|Manmohan Singh|India-Pakistan ties

NEW DELHI: The twists in India-Pakistan ties can put most thrillers to shade but Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will be glad to emerge not only unscathed but with a feather or two in his turban having hosted Yousaf Raza Gilani for a meeting that marks a forward movement in ties.

The decision to shoot off an invitation to Gilani and Pakistani President Asif Zardari was Singh’s and taken after it became clear that India would meet Pakistan in the cricket World Cup semifinal at Mohali and smacked more of intuition than premeditation.

It marked an attempt to break out of a stasis in bilateral ties where hurdles like 26/11 investigations and the domestic situation in Pakistan added to the uncertainty. Yet, with no major terror strike on the Indian mainland and the politically ambitious Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s exit as Pakistan foreign minister, an opportunity beckoned.

Singh faced the obvious dangers of ramping up negotiations with a civilian government that does not have the last say on foreign policy and is not in a position to ensure delivery on anti-terror pledges. But the wait for a single-window clearance in Pakistan could well be interminable and the PM sees no alternative to sustained engagement.

The decision does give a more proactive look to Singh’s leadership after being under attack since the first reports on Commonwealth Games scams broke in mid-2010. It reflects a certain resilience that those who know Singh attest to and as BJP found out when the PM turned tables on the party over the Wikileaks debate in Parliament.

A good meeting also helps dilute the taint of the embarrassment of the Sharm-el Sheikh joint statement in which India allowed a reference to Balochistan creep in, setting off a furore back home with Congress also making no secret of its displeasure. It can help counter the charge that Singh is a touch naïve in his Pakistan policy.

Aware that the Gilani-Singh talks would be largely unstructured although the agenda for the two leaders was worked out at a hectic pace, the meeting lacks the “formal” tag. This gave the Indian establishment some leeway in controlling the risks of a top level engagement without the required groundwork that such a meeting requires.

The reference to terrorism in the joint statement issued after the meeting of Indian and Pakistani home secretaries on Tuesday did set the tone. The reference to “both sides reiterated their commitment to fight terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and reaffirmed the need to bring those responsible for such crimes to justice” ensured India’s central concern was noted.

With the homes secretaries’ meeting providing clues to a “positive” result at Mohali, India-Pakistan relations are lurching forward again. Their progress hinges on several intangibles with Pakistani agencies often working in league with terror groups to launch attacks on India.

Readers’ opinions (3)

Recommended (1)

Vilas (India)3 hrs ago (04:31 AM)

Is it a paid news planted by Congress? How come the meeting is called as forward moment? . Terror invastigation is not complete. Terrorists are roming freeluy In Pakistan. And Pakistan was insisting on talks. It was India who was refusing to to talk till Pak takes concrete steps as asked in Indias so calle screte dossiars handed over to Pak. Pakistan has not give up anything and India has not got anything. Yes both Pm met and had good dinner at the cost of Indian Tax payers. Indian Tax payers dolled additional money for security and travell expenses. Why this meeting did not ahppen long time back if India did not get any preconditioned demands? Why was not that meeting held some other place so that tax payers would not have been burdened with additional cost of security/ Clearly this news is planted by Congress as meeting has not achived anything other than diverting the attention form the SCMAS in which Congress is inlvoved.Disagree (1)

Njunaid (Florida)3 hrs ago (04:26 AM)

I sure hope and pray for a possitive outcome from this meeting. I am rooting for Mr. Singh’s vision and foresight in this matter. God help him for the benifit of Indo Pak poor folks who share the same values, history and blood in most cases even though a different religions. Down with the hate mongers on both sides.Agree (9)Recommend (5)

MOHALI: India and Pakistan now have the Mohali spirit to celebrate after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Yousaf Raza Gilani gave bilateral ties a firm push amid tense but amicable cricket between the two nations.

For once, cricket diplomacy seems to have paid some dividends with the Singh-Gilani talks to be followed by a meeting of foreign secretaries by mid-2011 and commerce secretaries to meet even sooner. “It was truly cricket,” said an upbeat foreign secretary Nirupama Rao, emphasizing a friendly exchange of views.

The dinner meeting between the two prime ministers at the Mohali stadium helped revive the February 2010 Thimphu sentiment when they met at the Bhutanese capital. The thaw in ties will move the dialogue a few gears after having repeatedly stumbled on India’s concerns over terrorism.

The on-field loss to India might have soured the mood in Pakistan, but the diplomatic gains were evenly balanced. Gilani hoped India could play in Pakistan sometime soon and the two leaders engaged in a discussion that explored the need to reinvigorate bilateral dialogue.

During the meeting, Singh did take up terror and insisted that an atmosphere free of terrorism and violence was essential for ties to progress. Gilani expressed the same sentiment, Rao said. The foreign secretary said 26/11 investigations remained crucial to India but it was not clear if Singh specifically asked Gilani to expedite the probe.

Sources close to the PM quoted Singh as saying that the message from Mohali was that people from both countries want peace and the two prime ministers will work to this end. Although what Singh and Gilani achieved was essentially to pick the threads from the Thimphu engagement while restoration of full-scale dialogue is still to happen, the meeting marks a step forward.

“The two leaders had a discussion on wide-ranging issues of relevance for both countries. Just as we spoke of the Thimphu spirit, it will be appropriate to suggest that there was a Mohali spirit this time that can only be described as extremely positive,” Rao said.

The Indian side feels that the dialogue process has been set in motion and that the meeting did reaffirm intentions of the two governments to move on while not losing sight of the cornerstones for the relationship to flourish. “The meeting was held against the backdrop of a sporting contact which epitomizes people to people exchanges,” Rao said.

The two leaders met in Thimphu last year on the sidelines of the Saarc summit. While there was no formal or structured dialogue, the prime ministers spoke at length while watching the India-Pakistan match and then over dinner.

Comments (6)

Recommended (2)

Sitaram (Mohali)24 mins ago (07:06 AM)

Cricket diplomacy indeed works and kept PM MMS and his cabinet busy on and off the field scrambling about to entertain Gilani and his team. At the side of cricket, serious discussions went on about issues burning at both sides hoping that some give and take will happen, but they didn’t. Despite PM MMS playing Gilani’s ball for a couple of times in the VIP room one on one, no outcome of any agreement was reported. PM MMS will try his last effort playing Gilani’s ball again to make some breakthrough hopefully. Jai Hind.Agree (1)Recommend (1)

The two (or three if you include BD)countries were just one country less than 64 years ago, so why so many hassles in acheiving friendship and close relations, when we have same inspirations, face same problems, speak almost same language, have same culture, and our masses still try to make ends meet everyday. What the hell is wrong with us two people guys? Mr. Manmohan Singh and Mr. Yousuf Gilani, listen to me – pay close attention and just listen and then act on the following: 1. Abolish visa requirements between the two countries – just like USA and Canada. 2. Allow people cross the border to buy businesses and own property. 3. Resolve the outstanding socalled issues now such as Kashmir issue if in fact it is an issue. My best advice to both of you is LET KASHMIR GO – Jammu and Kashmir, as well as POK including Gilgit and Chitral. Let there be a greater Kashmir and let Kashmiris decide what the hell they want to do with their country. Give them a free choice except the option that they can not join either India or Pakistan. 4. Adopt a treaty to mutually and cooperatively fight the terrorism. 5. Immediately stop pointing fingers towards your neighbor across the border. 6. Increase student exchange program. 7. Cooperate in medical, scientific and other fields. andincrease cooperation in many other areas that I can not think of right now because I got up at 4am to watch the Mohali semi final and now I am sleepy and tired.

Ramachandra (Australia) replies to Z. Khan19 mins ago (07:11 AM)

No thanks… Khan-mia. We are much much happier this way. Opening up the borders is the equivalent of opening the floodgates to hell and unending terror. We will have the entire of Pakistan and the likes of Dawood emptying into my nation.. No one from here in their right mind would go over there…We are much much better off in all walks of life than ur nation which is a basket-case today and a failed state. Once the borders have opened up, it will be welcome to communal riots almost on a daily basis and soon the entire Bhaarath will find itself subjugated by Jehaadis and Hindus at the new wafer thin majority of 57% (including the Muslims of Pak) would have only hell and subordination to pay. So thanks but no thanks.

Shueb (Bangalore) replies to Z. Khan1 hr ago (05:37 AM)

Mr Khan there are many hassles in achieving friendship because history is a witness whenever we have stretched out our hand of friendship our hand has always been pinched, on the face PAK says that yes we are with you, but in reality the PAK govt feeds its public with anti India sentiment. 1. Visa cannot be abolished, many who have come in past have still not returned, staying illegally because they find India much better than Pak. 2. If we allow people cross border to buy property thousands will be intrested to buy property in India but non in Pak (who wants terror in backyard & neighbourhood) 3. We cannot let Kashmir GO, if J&K is given freedom, it wont be long before PAK army captures it. 4. Fight against terror needed inside PAK, not in India. 5. If you are not allowed to call a spade a spade what will you call it? 6. No Indian student will be willing to go to PAK, what can you learn there? 7. We are ready to co-operate but PAK never really trusts usAgree (1)Recommend (1)

Ramachandra (Australia) replies to Shueb18 mins ago (07:12 AM)And there are many who have come now for the semifinals who will never return…

NEW DELHI: Congress is cautiously optimistic that the gamble to push normalization of ties with Pakistan through cricket diplomacy will prove a positive, erasing bad memories of the ill-fated Havana handshake and the short-lived Sharm-el Sheikh embrace while taking attention away from scams.

The joint statement after the home secretaries’ meeting on Tuesday, holding out hope that India can probe 26/11 leads in Pakistan, has turned sceptics somewhat optimistic. All eyes are on the lasting outcome of the Singh-Gilani meeting once dust settles over Mohali.

An Indian commission’s access to 26/11 witnesses and investigators will hamper the Pakistani state’s cussedness in dealing with terrorism. While the terms of reference of such a commission would be decided in the coming days, it is a plus the party is looking for as it negotiates the tricky terrain of talks with Pakistan just ahead of important state elections.

Normalization of ties with a hostile neighbour is crucial to reduce the burden of material and human resources that are locked by the conflict, a view held firmly by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh but which has not always had its takers in government and Congress. The party has not opposed peace moves, but remains wary of being tripped by unreliable interlocutors in Pakistan.

The backing for a peace tryst in a strong section of the political class is tempered by the unabating terror intent of groups in Pakistan which makes befriending the country a costly political adventure. “We are optimistic but we will have to have tangible benefits on terror front,” a Congress leader said.

A happy outcome would nudge the headlines away from graft that has kept UPA in the dock. Timing is the key because the salutary effect of success on Pakistan would be complemented by an expected favourable margin in five assembly elections.

With Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, general secretary Rahul Gandhi along with many other ministers in Mohali to cheer Team India, and lend their weight to Singh’s latest peace initiative with Pakistan, the party on Wednesday virtually declared a holiday.

It cancelled a routine news briefing, perhaps keeping in view the fact that the focus would be entirely on the World Cup semifinal clash between India and Pakistan.

The Congress headquarters wore a deserted look with barely any office-bearer visible. Like everywhere else in the capital, the AICC office was bereft of any activity. Even the rival BJP, which is in disagreement with Congress on all major issues, also cancelled its media briefing.

NEW DELHI: A few hours ahead of the meeting of the prime ministers of India and Pakistan, the security establishment was in a tizzy over a possible terror threat to the PM.

On Tuesday evening, the SPG, NSG and other security agencies went into an overdrive when they were prompted by a phone call received at a shop in Ahmedabad that warned that the Prime Minister would be attacked. Which of the two would be the target and which group was behind it was not clear.

The shop owner immediately alerted the police, which established that the call couldn’t be ruled out as a hoax. What forced the police to take it seriously was the fact that the call came through VOIP ( voice over internet protocol), and not from a mobile or landline number. More importantly, they also suspected that the call was actually meant for a government installation and may have mistakenly gone to the shop.

The Gujarat police alerted central agencies, which began their investigations. Sources said they couldn’t rule out the threat as a hoax since there were several indicators to take it seriously. “It is possible that someone was pulling a prank, but there was some amount of planning and strategy,” an official said.

The PM’s security detail was immediately briefed about the input. Though the multi-layered security cover at Mohali and the PM’s routine security are both geared to provide foolproof protection against any possible attack, the entire establishment stepped up its discreet monitoring. On the eve of the much anticipated meeting and cricket match, government was in no mood to kick up any security fears so extra care was taken to ensure the terror threat remained below media radar.

This was the first terror alert which was directly targeted towards the Mohali match and events surrounding it. Until Tuesday evening, there was no specific terror threat to the India-Pakistan match though there were warnings of a possible plot to target the World Cup.

NEW DELHI: “It is not about winning or losing but it is a victory for the game of cricket.”

As Indian grins turned into shrieks with the fall of the last Pakistani wicket and Shahid Afridi’s men exited the World Cup, Pakistani PM Yousaf Raza Gilani played it with a generous straight bat. He stood up, clapped in appreciation of the outcome and called it a good game.

The comment, telling for the contrast with the heartbreak that the Pakistani nation would have experienced at the defeat, summed up the focus of Gilani’s trip – peace through cricket.

Gilani pointed out that his delegation comprised members from every party represented in Pakistan parliament, thereby indicating that his reciprocation to his counterpart’s invite had the backing of every shade of political opinion.

Gilani, who knows Singh well having met him earlier, recognized Punjab governor Shivraj Patil — he reminded that Patil was the Speaker of Lok Sabha when he was Speaker of the Pakistan assembly. He also knew quite a few other leaders from the Indian side.

Gilani stressed on the need for peace between the two neighbouring countries, sharing a blow-hot blow-cold relationship. Chaperoned by minister-in-waiting Sachin Pilot, Gilani said there was need for more exchanges between political leaders, MPs, social representatives and people. He said there was need to focus on areas that were beneficial to both countries.

Readers’ opinions (3)

John Dahodi (USA)2 hrs ago (05:07 AM)

We Indian did win the semi-final world cup cricket match with Pakistan but that means TO MANY MILLION Indians that we won the WORLD WAR!! Similarly millions Pakistanis feel that they lost the World War. Still it was a game, nothing more. Rather than Pakistanis mourn for a match lost, they should take a deep breathe and think that in the last few years because of their religious fanaticism, they have lost much more in Pakistan itself and around the Globe. If they take their own national social, religious, political and economical condition so seriously as a cricket game in comparison with India and try their best to equate themselves with India, future of Pakistan will be much brighter and much prosperous.

Shipra (Singapore)2 hrs ago (04:47 AM)

Is this same Shivaraj patil, who was home minister when Paki terrorists attacked Mumbai?Agree (1)Disagree (1)

Murty (Bengaluru) replies to Shipra1 hr ago (06:23 AM)

Yes, again thats the trick played by Cong government to cheat the public. Removed from viewable post and placed in other post. So both The Public and “politician” both are happy.

MUMBAI: The traffic police has declared the area around Wankhede stadium a no-vehicle zone for the World Cup final on Saturday, with some concessions to VVIPs. The restriction follows an advisory issued by intelligence agencies warning of a terror strike using an explosive-laden vehicle.

Mumbai additional commissioner (traffic) Brijesh Singh said, ”Vehicles will not be allowed beyond the Princess Street flyover to the west of the stadium. Only vehicles of VVIPs and police cars will be exempted.”

For the first time, the traffic police have marked out separate lanes for spectators’ vehicles to ease traffic flow. ”Diversions will start from Worli and further away at Haji Ali. There will be heavy police deployment at diversion points,” said Singh.

Spectators have been advised to keep their tickets in hand and keep to the right lane. Cautionary boards will be placed at important points along the route. ”There will be several security checks. So, spectators should arrive at least three hours before the match,” deputy commissioner Nandkumar Chaugule said.

The cops appealed to spectators to use public transport to reach the match venue. ”Churchgate station is close to the stadium. So, using trains is the best option. If spectators choose to come in cars, they should opt for carpooling,” said Chaugule.

AHMEDABAD: Reviews of Pulitzer prize winner Joseph Lelyveld’s ‘Great Soul: Mahatma Gandhi and His Struggle with India’ say Gandhi was a bisexual and had a German-Jewish bodybuilder lover in Hermann Kallenbach. Gandhians and scholars from across the globe have condemned the reviews. The Gujarat government banned the book on Wednesday.

TOI tries to get you up close with Kallenbach, who in Gandhi’s own words was much more than a German-Jewish bodybuilder, as mentioned in the review. He was described by Gandhi as a profound intellectual who was also in search of truth like him. He was a great friend of Gandhi and quite an intellectual who initially shaped the life of Gandhi.

Gandhi wrote about their friendship in ‘The story of my experiments with truth’: “When I came to know him I was startled at his love of luxury and extravagance. But at our very first meeting, he asked searching questions concerning matters of religion. We incidentally talked of Gautam Buddha’s renunciation. Our acquaintance soon ripened into very close friendship, so much so that we thought alike, and he was convinced that he must carry out in his life the changes I was making in mine.”

Kallenbach was the one who gave a plot of land to Gandhi for his first big ashram in South Africa. ‘Indian Opinion’, a magazine run by Gandhi in South Africa, carried an article in 1910 about this, “Kallenbach has given the name ‘Tolstoy Farm’ to the farm which he has offered for [the use of] the satyagrahi families. He has great faith in Count Tolstoy’s teaching and tries to live up to it. He himself wants to live on the farm and follow a simple mode of life.

It appears Kallenbach will gradually give up his work as architect and live in complete poverty… The farm measures about 1,100 acres, being two miles in length and three quarters of a mile in breadth.”

When Gandhi wrote the historic letter to Leo Tolstoy he mentioned this anecdote, “Kallenbach has written to you about Tolstoy Farm. Kallenbach and I have been friends for many years. I may state that he has gone through most of the experiences that you have so graphically described in your work, ‘My Confessions’. No writings have so deeply touched Kallenbach as yours; and, as a spur to further effort in living up to the ideals held before the world by you, he has taken the liberty, after consultation with me, of naming his farm after you.”

Sid Harth3 minutes ago

Please allow me. I have commented on this topic earlier. I am a staunch follower of Mahatma Gandhi. I have done some research and posted it on my blog along with other news. It is my firm opinion that the friendship between Hermann Kallenbach and Mahatma Gandhi was spiritual, perhaps, in other word, platonic. The affair between these two friends, as portrayed by various people, cannot sustain careful scrutiny.

http://cogitoergosum.co.cc/

…and I am Sid Harth

Author fights back in Gandhi ‘gay lover’ row

By Agence France-PresseTuesday, March 29th, 2011 — 4:46 pm

NEW DELHI – An American author on Tuesday angrily dismissed claims his new book on Mahatma Gandhi alleged that India’s independence leader was a racist bisexual who left his wife for a body-builder.

Indian newspapers were outraged by reviews in the United States and Britain of Joseph Lelyveld’s biography that focused on Gandhi’s relationship with German-Jewish architect and amateur body-builder Hermann Kallenbach.

Gandhi lived with Kallenbach in Johannesburg for about two years from 1907 before leaving South Africa to return to India in 1914.

“How completely you have taken possession of my body,” Gandhi was quoted as saying in a letter to Kallenbach. “This is slavery with a vengeance.”

The British Daily Mail ran the headline “Gandhi ‘left his wife to live with a male lover’ new book claims”, while the Daily Telegraph review said he had “held racist views against South African blacks.”

But Lelyveld, a former executive editor of the New York Times, said “Great Soul: Mahatma Gandhi And His Struggle With India” had been grossly distorted by the press coverage.

“I do not allege that Gandhi is racist or bisexual,” he said in a statement issued through his publisher Alfred A. Knopf. “The word ‘bisexual’ nowhere appears in the book.”

“The word ‘racist’ is used once to characterise comments by Gandhi early in his stay in South Africa… the chapter in no way concludes that he was a racist or offers any suggestion of it.”

The Wall Street Journal said Lelyveld’s book depicted Gandhi — who is revered as the father of independent India and an icon of non-violent protest — was “a sexual weirdo, a political incompetent and a fanatical faddist.”

“Mr Lelyveld makes abundantly clear… the love of his life was a German-Jewish architect and body-builder, Hermann Kallenbach,” the Journal review said.

It quoted a letter Gandhi wrote to Kallenbach saying “your portrait (the only one) stands on my mantelpiece in my bedroom.”

The book also details how Gandhi said cotton wool and Vaseline were “a constant reminder” of Kallenbach — a reference the author believes might relate to enemas that Gandhi gave himself.

Gandhi experts and his relatives in India, where the book has not yet been released, attacked the accusations about Gandhi’s love life.

“These western writers have a morbid fascination for Gandhi’s sexuality,” his great-grandson Tushar Gandhi told the Delhi-based Mail Today. “It only helps them sell their books. It is always open season with Gandhi.”

Jad Adams, who wrote a book last year that itself caused a storm for examining how Gandhi bathed with nubile young women and often shared a bed with one or more of his female followers, rejected any suggestion that Gandhi was gay.

“If Gandhi committed acts of homosexuality, there would be ample evidence, either justifying them or expressing shame,” he said, adding Gandhi used the word “love” often in letters and speech.

Adams said that he believed Kallenbach was homosexual and strongly attracted to Gandhi, but that the future independence leader, who had four children with his wife Kasturba, did not reciprocate.

Tara Bhattacharjee, Gandhi’s granddaughter and chair of the Kasturba Gandhi National Memorial Trust, said any attempt “to discredit the man who gave us the gift of non-violence because of his friendships is just small-minded.”

The book will go on sale in the United States on Tuesday. Bookshops in India said they did not know whether the book would be made available for sale in the country.

<a href="http://www.queerty.com/the-male-german-bodybuilder-that-got-gandhi-all-hot-and-bothered-20110326/".The Male German Bodybuilder That Got Gandhi All Hot And Bothered

Oh, Mahatma! It turns out India’s early 20th century spiritual leader and civil disobedience champion, Ghandi was interested in more than the ladies (including his own niece, whom he hosted nightly cuddle parties with), but also Hermann Kallenbach, a German bodybuilder who biographer Joseph Lelyveld insists was his real true love.

Yet as Mr. Lelyveld makes abundantly clear, Gandhi’s organ probably only rarely became aroused with his naked young ladies, because the love of his life was a German-Jewish architect and bodybuilder, Hermann Kallenbach, for whom Gandhi left his wife in 1908. “Your portrait (the only one) stands on my mantelpiece in my bedroom,” he wrote to Kallenbach. “The mantelpiece is opposite to the bed.” For some reason, cotton wool and Vaseline were “a constant reminder” of Kallenbach, which Mr. Lelyveld believes might relate to the enemas Gandhi gave himself, although there could be other, less generous, explanations.

Gandhi wrote to Kallenbach about “how completely you have taken possession of my body. This is slavery with a vengeance.” Gandhi nicknamed himself “Upper House” and Kallenbach “Lower House,” and he made Lower House promise not to “look lustfully upon any woman.” The two then pledged “more love, and yet more love . . . such love as they hope the world has not yet seen.”

They were parted when Gandhi returned to India in 1914 [at age 45], since the German national could not get permission to travel to India during wartime—though Gandhi never gave up the dream of having him back, writing him in 1933 that “you are always before my mind’s eye.” Later, on his ashram, where even married “inmates” had to swear celibacy, Gandhi said: “I cannot imagine a thing as ugly as the intercourse of men and women.” You could even be thrown off the ashram for “excessive tickling.” (Salt was also forbidden, because it “arouses the senses.”)

Well, now we know what Gandhi supposedly told those two British lads, “The greatest gift God gives us is another person to love,” regardless of sex. But this leaves me confused. About Gandhi’s preferred sexual position. All those enemas would have be believing he was a bottom, but nicknaming himself “Upper House” and Hermann as “Lower House” hints Mohandas was the top. Or did terms like “top” and “bottom” even exist back then? Maybe Gandhi was, true to his ideology, completely versatile?

“Upper House” and “Lower House” could also be a reference to the old German caste system, which was still more or less in place at the time. Gandhi would have been very familiar with Indian caste, so maybe it was an inside joke between them?Posted: Mar 26, 2011 at 10:21 pmNo. 4 · niles

He always did rock that dhoti. As for Upper House, it’s clear he considered himself the brains and his beau the brawn in the relationship – passive resistance indeed.Posted: Mar 26, 2011 at 10:47 pmNo. 5 · FunMe

Wow! That would mean I would adore Ghandi even more! And it would not surprise me as we gays tend to be leaders in more ways than one.

Very cool.Posted: Mar 26, 2011 at 11:05 pmNo. 6 · edgyguy1426

Well you managed to take a real interesting subject and reduce it to its lowest common denominatorPosted: Mar 27, 2011 at 1:07 amNo. 7 · Jeffree

Never knew ANY of this. Thanks, Max Simon & Queerty!

Time for me to do a little research….Posted: Mar 27, 2011 at 1:30 amNo. 8 · Viking

How about a real picture of Kallenbach instead of a gym bod from today? Nobody looked like that back in the early 1900s.Posted: Mar 27, 2011 at 7:35 amNo. 9 · TJ Parker

The first parts of the linked article, about Ghandi’s (alleged) *real* politics, egotism, views on race, and treatment of others … are actually more interesting than any speculation on his sexuality.Posted: Mar 27, 2011 at 4:40 pmNo. 11 · BreakTime

alex : Yes, that part of the article is the most interesting.Posted: Mar 27, 2011 at 4:51 pmNo. 12 · sidewalk

The wikipedia entry for Hermann Kallenbach, with references, makes no mention of bodybuilder. Kallenbach adopted a vegetarian diet, according to one source, and was a sport-loving bachelor.

A quick review through Google demonstrates how our instant news and twitter culture can spread an idea without any factual support. The initial review of the book says ‘bodybuilder,’ and a host of other sites merely copied/pasted the word without any critical thought or fact-checking.

For a different view of Kallenbach, highlights from some other sources:

“They had a great deal in common a deep attraction for simple life and working for the good of their fellow beings.

In 1904 he met Mohandas Gandhi, who was then working in South Africa. He became his intimate friend and dedicated devotee. Abandoning the life of a wealthy, sport-loving bachelor, he adopted the vegetarian diet and simple lifestyle of Gandhi.

In Gandhi’s words, they became ‘soulmates’ and, for a time, shared Kallenbach’s home.”Posted: Mar 27, 2011 at 6:46 pmNo. 13 · BreakTime

And I believe Gandhi had a pretty well-established sexual desire (to say the least) for women. Not that that negates a love/lust for a man, too, but..Posted: Mar 27, 2011 at 8:12 pmNo. 14 · niles

Oh…Niles…..c’mon. You can still enjoy the alleged bodybuilder topic! I just thought the other stuff is very interesting.Posted: Mar 27, 2011 at 9:11 pmNo. 16 · christopher di spirito

Gandhi’s organ probably only rarely became aroused because he was always fasting. A good hard-on requires nutrients. Gandhi looked incredibly unhealthy through most of his life.Posted: Mar 27, 2011 at 9:33 pmNo. 17 · Danny

Upper house-lower house – so was he a bottom who liked to sit on top his boyfriend?Posted: Mar 28, 2011 at 4:42 am

KALLENBACH, HERMANN

KALLENBACH, HERMANN (1871–1945), South African architect and intimate of *Gandhi. Kallenbach was born in East Prussia and studied architecture in Stuttgart and Munich. In 1896 he went to South Africa, where he practiced as an architect. In 1904 he met Mohandas Gandhi, who was then working in South Africa. He became his intimate friend and dedicated devotee. Abandoning the life of a wealthy, sport-loving bachelor, he adopted the vegetarian diet and simple lifestyle of Gandhi. In Gandhi’s words, they became “soulmates” and, for a time, shared Kallenbach’s home. Together with another Jew, H.S.L. Polak, Kallenbach was associated with Gandhi throughout the Satyagraha (non-violent resistance) struggle which lasted in South Africa until 1914.

In 1910 Kallenbach purchased a farm near Johannesburg as a commune for the families of Indian resisters who had been imprisoned. It was named Tolstoy Farm and Kallenbach joined Gandhi there. During the great Satyagraha march of Indians in 1913, he risked his personal safety to confront hostile whites in defense of the Indians. In November 1913 he was imprisoned together with Gandhi. Upon their release they both went to England. Kallenbach planned to accompany Gandhi to India, but with the outbreak of World War I, he was detained in England because of his German citizenship. After the war he returned to South Africa, where he resumed his work as an architect, but continued to correspond with Gandhi.

The rise of Nazism shocked Kallenbach into a rediscovery of his Jewish roots. He became a convinced Zionist, served on the Executive of the South African Zionist Federation, and planned to settle in Ereẓ Israel. At the request of Moshe Shertok (Sharett), Kallenbach visited Gandhi in May 1937 to enlist his sympathy and support for Zionism. In private conversations he gained the sympathy of Gandhi and his promise to take an interest in the Zionist cause. In his public statements, however, Gandhi continued to maintain a position unsympathetic to Zionism. Although disagreeing with Gandhi over Zionism and also in his (Kallenbach’s) conviction that Hitler had to be resisted by violence, Kallenbach’s deep friendship with Gandhi continued, and he visited him again in 1939. When Kallenbach died in 1945 he left a portion of his considerable estate for South African Indians, but the bulk was left for the benefit of Zionism. His large collection of books went to the Hebrew University, and his cremated remains were buried at Deganyah.ADD. BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Was born in Prussia, according to the South African Who’s Who (1908) and educated at Tilsit College in Germany from 1882 until 1890. He studied architecture in Strelitz, Stuttgart and Munich and did his military service with the ROYAL ENGINEERS in Munich from October 1894 to October 1895. In 1896 Kallenbach came to South Africa and settled in Johannesburg. He seems to have been accompanied by two brothers. Soon after his arrival in Johannesburg KALLENBACH entered into partnership with one PHILLIPS, plans for the Maurice Building (1897) being drawn up and signed by the partners (cf. KALLENBACH & PHILLIPS).

KALLENBACH left Johannesburg for Durban at the outbreak of the Anglo-Boer War and designed several buildings in Durban, the most important being Koenig’s Building (completed by 1903) and later renamed St Andrew’s Building. This five-storey building with a columnated facade of stone and twin cupolas brought Johannesburg urbanity to Durban, its closed, business frontage in marked contrast to the open balconies of the neighbouring Durban Club and Marine Hotel. KALLENBACH returned to Johannesburg about 1903; Longland’s directory (1903) listed KALLENBACH in partnership with PHILLIPS but after 1903 there was no further record of PHILLIPS in Johannesburg and by 1903 KALLENBACH seems to have been in partnership with A REYNOLDS (cf. KALLENBACH & REYNOLDS) since certain buildings by this partnership date from 1903. The partners had offices in Durban, Johannesburg and Pretoria.

According to Indian Opinion (28 January 1955) KALLENBACH met Mohandas K Gandhi in 1904, although some sources give 1906, and certainly Gandhi was renting premises in Pretoria from KALLENBACH in 1906 while addressing KALLENBACH as ‘Dear Mr Kallenbach.’ KALLENBACH’s friendship with Gandhi became an important focus in his life and Gandhi’s own writings provide character sketches of KALLENBACH, the only available information of this nature so far found. According to Gandhi (1929:293), KALLENBACH was introduced to him (n.d.) by a Mr Khan (possibly Kazi Behlol Khan) who discovered in KALLENBACH ‘deep down … a vein of otherworldliness and introduced him to me. Then I came to know him I was startled at his love of luxury and extravagance … at that time he was single, and was spending Rs 1 200 monthly on himself, over and above house rent. Now he reduced himself to such simplicity that his expenses came to Rs 120 per month.’ The reference to KALLENBACH’s love of luxury corresponds to some other possible lines of business sponsored by the Kallenbachs: the United Transvaal Directory (1907) listed a Kallenbach as an importer of delicacies from Europe. Yet another Kallenbach (Kallenbach & Driman) was secretary to the Edward Diamond Prospecting Syndicate, sharing the same address as Kallenbach & Reynolds in Sacke’s Building, Johannesburg, which was designed by Kallenbach & Reynolds between 1903 and 1904. It is possible that by this date Kallenbach was already speculating in land and in township development; subsequently Kallenbach Drive in Johannesburg was built ‘presumably named after Hermann KALLENBACH, a township-owner’ (Smith 1971:262). He is said to have been responsible for the building of Munro Drive in Johannesburg and to have built Sylvia Pass himself with the help of some labourers, a firm believer in the beneficial effect of manual labour. He handed the pass over to the city council on its completion. According to Smith (1971), KALLENBACH owned the township of Linksfield Ridge (Doornfontein No. 24) where he himself lived. KALLENBACH’s wealth was allowed him freedom from regular practice to attend to his other interests but he secured able partners for the efficient running of his practice, in particular AM KENNEDY.

So far no certain date exists for the commencement of KALLENBACH’s partnership with AM Kennedy (cf. KALLENBACH & KENNEDY); it probably dated from about 1903. In 1913 Kennedy left for Canada. By this time KALLENBACH was strongly committed to the Indian civil rights movement which must have left KENNEDY with a large share in running the business. His commitment to the issues surrounding the Indian National Congress was deep. Not only had he funded Phoenix Farm (established in 1904) for the Satyagraha in about 1909, but in 1910 bought land near Lawley outside Johannesburg, donating it to the same cause. Gandhi named it Tolstoy Farm in honour of Leo Tolstoy, whom he admired and with whom he corresponded. Here KALLENBACH taught sandal-making, a skill he had learnt from the Trappist monks he met in Natal at Marrianhill during the Anglo-Boer War.

KALLENBACH always emphasised the need for a fit, healthy existence. He was a fruitarian, and at some point in his life had been taught to box by one Sandor. Further disruption to his architectural practice (possibly the last straw for KENNEDY) occurred when he was arrested in November 1913 for taking part in the Newcastle (Natal) protest march; he was released after several weeks and the intervention of the Colonial Secretary in London.

The partners KALLENBACH & KENNEDY entered the competition for the new (Great) synagogue in Wolmarans Street in Johannesburg in 1911/1912 but were unsuccessful (the competition was won by T SCHAERER.) KALLENBACH, however, obtained the commission for the Greek Orthodox Church of St Constantine the Great (1912-1913) in the same street and it is not unlikely that he submitted the same or a similar design in each case since both completed buildings refer to the Byzantine tradition and are surmounted by huge domes. In 1914 KALLENBACH left South Africa in the company of Gandhi and Gandhi’s wife. According to Gandhi (1929:322) KALLENBACH had hoped to accompany Gandhi to India but was not allowed to do so by the British authorities because of his German origins (the First World War had evidently commenced by this time); Gandhi commented, ‘It was a great wrench for me to part with Mr KALLENBACH, but I could see that his pang was greater. Could he have come to India, he would have been leading today the simple happy life of a farmer and weaver. Now he is in South Africa, leading his old life and doing brisk business as an architect’ (Gandhi 1929:322.)

KALLENBACH remained in Britain for several years, an associate of Olive Schreiner amongst others, clear in an extract from a biography on Schreiner which states ‘Hermann Kallenbach, a German businessman, settled in the Witwatersrand in 1896. An associate of Gandhi’s, he corresponded with Tolstoy and believed in vegetarianism. He gave Olive Schreiner help with her diet in the years in London and also ran errands for her, especially when she was ill. Schreiner’s letter to Gandhi about Gandhi’s stance in the War (the First World War) was actually sent to KALLENBACH’ (First & Scott 1980:304.) For some time KALLENBACH was detained in the Aliens’ Detention Camp in Douglas, Isle of Man.

The date of his return to South Africa is not certain but he was listed again in Johannesburg in the 1921 United Transvaal Directory but not as an architect. Although his friendship with Gandhi continued, KALLENBACH seems to have returned to his professional life in Johannesburg and turned to Zionism: ‘he was a Zionist, but Zionism to him was not a negative phenomenon … Modern Palestine was to him an ethical and social experiment with a message to Jewry and to the world’ (Rand Daily Mail 26.3.1945.)

After his return to South Africa, he persuaded AM KENNEDY to leave Canada and take up the old partnership in about 1921. KALLENBACH is rumoured to have been the businessman in the partnership, bringing in the work, backed up by KENNEDY’s strengths in the office. From about 1923/1924 the partners designed a number of buildings in Durban, Pretoria and Johannesburg. In 1928 the firm was joined by AS FURNER (cf. KALLENBACH, KENNEDY & FURNER). Architecturally speaking the years between 1928 and 1945, when Kallenbach died, were the richest years of the firm’s existence since Furner was a talented designer who knew what was going on in modern architecture world-wide.

KALLENBACH’s last overseas visit was to India and Gandhi in 1945. During this visit Gandhi tried to persuade KALLENBACH to forgive the Nazi holocaust but KALLENBACH said he could not. In the 1940s he designed a simple brick home for those of the Gandhi family still in Phoenix and died a few weeks later. His library, some 5 000 volumes, was sent to the University of Jerusalem in 1955 as he willed, and the bulk of his fortune was left to benefit Israel.ISAA 1927. (Afr Archt Dec 1912:96; Afr Archt Jul 1913:v; First & Scott 1980; Fisher 1966; Gandhi 1929; Herbert 1975; Hillebrand 1975; Huttenback 1971; Indian Opinion 28/1/1955; Kallenbach Papers, LHM, Dbn; Kallenbach Papers, Brenthurst Libr; Norwich 1985, 1989; ISAA mem list; Picton-Seymour 1977; RDM 23.3.45; RDM 28.4.84:8; The Sunday Times 25.3.45; The Star 16.7.1985 ill; SAAR Mar 1945:60 obit; SAWW 1908, 1910, 1929/30; Smith 1971; South African Jewish Year Book 1929; SA Libr MSC26; UTD 1907, 1921, 1934; Van der Waal 1987)

Contact Artefacts please if you have any comments or more information regarding this record.

Extracts from Letters by Gandhi to Hermann Kallenbach(July 20, August 16 & August 28, 1937)

Letter of July 20, 1937 from Segaon:

“I have read the Palestine Report. It makes sad reading but the Commission could not do anything more. It almost admits the critical blunder a promise to the Arabs and a contrary one to the Jews. Breach of promise became inevitable. I am more than ever convince that the only proper and dignified solution is the one I have suggested now more so than before. My solution admits of no … If the Jews will rely wholly on the Arab goodwill, they must once for all renounce British protection. I wonder if they will adopt the heroic remedy. More when we meet.”

Letter of August 16, 1937 from Wardha:

“What you have done is all right. I had a long talk with Andrews. I do not know what we will be able to do. The more I observe the events happening the more convinced I feel of the correctness of my advice.

“It is likely to be a voice in the wilderness. Nevertheless if you feel as strongly as I do, you will take up the firm & only stand that is likely to do good… in the end. Without that, there will be no happy home for the Jews in Palestine.”

Letter of August 28, 1937 from Segaon:

“… I have just read the monograph sent to me at your instance on Zionism. The sender’s name is not given. The statement is very impressive, deeply interesting. And if it is true a settlement between the Jews & the Arabs might not be difficult. I quite clearly see that if you are to play any part in bringing about an honourable settlement, your place is in India. It might be that you might have to go at times to South Africa. You might have to go frequently to Palestine, but much of the work lies in India as I visualise the development of the settlement talks. All this I say irrespective of the domestic arrangement between us as to your coming in December…

“I am conferring with Andrews also as to what he should do in Palestine. But I have not the time to tell you all these things. … the need to know them. It is enough for you to know that I am redeeming my promise to interest myself in the movement.”Source: GandhiServe Foundation – Mahatma Gandhi Research and Media Service (reprinted with permission)

1. LETTER TO HERMANN KALLENBACH

PHOENIX,[March 12, 1913]

MY DEAR LOWER HOUSE,

The above1 is soul-stirring. I was teaching one of the boys thismorning and came upon it. I thought it so fitted your case at manypoints that I would have it copied. Please read and reread and comeout of Doubting Castle after having killed Giant Despair.

With Love,UPPER HOUSE

[PS.]I have not written to the Countess2. I thought I would await Mrs.Mayo’s letter. As you will soon be on the tramp I am not sending theagricultural books. It is right?

From the original: Gandhi-Kallenbach Correspondence. Courtesy: NationalArchives of India

The question, therefore, that we have to address ourselves to is not whether to placate men of the writer’s stamp (and, after all, they represent undoubtedly the majority of the Europeans in South Africa), but whether we must alter our simple mode of life and take over what we consider to be the vices of modern life, in order to retain our foothold in their country. Those who have done so know to their cost that they have not, on that account, been able to make themselves more acceptable. Their Asiatic origin is still their sufficient condem- nation. The two systems are struggling to live side by side in South Africa. The experiment is interesting. We can only hope that, if the Asiatic has faith in himself and in his civilization, he will not lower the latter, and we doubt not that that which has stood the test of ages will come out scatheless in the test it is now undergoing in this sub- continent. But the handful of Asiatics in South Africa have to remem- ber that, if they do not want to disgrace the country of their origin or their system of life, they must thoroughly represent it, and not present a parody of it. They must live up to the moral code that has been handed down to them for ages past. With them, honesty is not merely the best policy, and on that account only to be observed when it is profitable, but it must be adhered to at all cost and in all circum- stances. With them, might is not right, but right is always might. They can have nothing to do with the doctrine of the survival of the fittest! They have to live and let live. If they catch the modern craze for competition and adopt the characteristically grasping nature of this vaunted civilization, they will certainly go under.Indian Opinion ,2 – 1 2 – 1 9 1 1

56. LETTER TO HERMANN KALLENBACH

TOLSTOY FARM,LAWLEY STATION,TRANSVAAL,October 22, 1911

MY DEAR LOWER HOUSE,

Your having become considerably reduced does not perturb me a bit. Your letters show me that your mind is vigorous. The vigour of mind is possible only in a healthy body and I am anxious for you to have a healthy body which need not necessarily be a strong, i.e., a weight-lifting body.I must congratulate you on having a relation who has to bearrested for an imaginary political crime.

Gordon has been regularly sleeping and supping and breakfast- ing at the Farm now for a week. For the weekend he has not been to Town at all.

Albrecht has gone to Town. I think he wanted a change. But he is to inquire about a siphon for one of the bores. I agree with him that we should have one hole working. There seems to be great scarcity of water just at present. He returns on Monday.

The fencing Inspector wrote two days ago suggesting that the fence should be completed without delay. All the standards were completed on Wednesday. For part of the work the wires are also in. The work is going forward. We hope to finish it by the end of the week.I have Chhaganlal’s brother1 , who arrived with him on the Farmas a patient.

We still continue saltless; I entirely.

I think that in your absence, in view of Heymann’s, I should have written to the Lapins. It cannot do them harm to pinch them- selves a little to pay even a friend. They have not taken it at all amiss.

They have sent me a guarantee for Hilt’s rent. For the moment I forget the guarantor’s name. But I have told them that they may accept the guarantee if they consider the guarantor to be a good man.I hope to send you the July account that you want.

1 Maganlal Gandhi

I do not think I am going to India at all. The invitation was not formal. I have therefore cabled Prof. Gokhale saying I would rather that he withdrew my name from discussion.1Dr. Mehta writes saying you are almost sure to go to India.I hope that you have been gettingI.O. from London.With love to you and all,

Yours,UPPER HOUSE

From the original: Gandhi-Kallenbach Correspondence. Courtesy: NationalArchives of India

84. LETTER TO HERMANN KALLENBACHDecember 3, 1911

MY DEAR LOWER HOUSE,

Today is Sunday, Gordon is here. He is keeping well. His farmis still unsold.

Your brother is to be married today. He sent me the invitation. I wrote wishing them a happy life. He invited Call to stay for a few days at his house and to look after it while he was away. Call left the Farm yesterday. He is still unhinged. He likes no one at the Farm. He said if it was a matter of choice, he would prefer the asylum to the Farm. I let110THE COLLECTED WORKS OF MAHATMA GANDHI

him do pretty much as he liked even to the extent of spiriting leather. He took it into his head to make for himself a pair of sandals. He made a horrible pair. He is never of the same mind for two minutes. Of course I shall watch him wherever he is. How nice it would have been if you had been here. He likes you immensely. He thinks that you are his only great friend. I am trying to get compensation for him from the company. He has been offered £3-2-6 per weeks. I am still in correspondence with the manager.

The windmill is working. The wheel does not turn the whole day long. Naturally, therefore, we do not get 9,000 gallons of water per day. The water is allowed to run into the dam but it has not reached there yet. I might lay the pipes as far, I shall go slowly.

£ 100 were cabled to you last week. You had written to Kennedy who was then in Durban. Miss Friedman asked me and I drew a cheque for £ 100 and the manager cabled transfer of £ 100 to the Bank there.

I am certainly sorry that you are considering commercial propositions. You have not gone to Europe for that purpose. We did discuss these matters here and you seemed to think that you would clear off the bond from the property itself. He who would be good and do good must have patience. As in diseases so in other matters we must let Nature have her course. Our business difficulties are also a variety of disease≈ mental, it is true. And we may no more suppress these diseases without suffering from other eruptions than we may physical diseases without their breaking out in another form. We have to eradicate them and there is only one way of doing so. I agree with your analysis of Fisher Unwin. I too met him when I was last there. You had introduced me to the Daniels in your previous letters.

If Kennedy is at the office tomorrow, I shall discuss with him the question of your staying longer and if he is agreeable I shall cable. I am anxious that you should stay for your pleasure, it may be ever so subtle. The condition also should be that you are to stay only with Mrs. Mayo or return. Germany is certainly not now the place for you. We are not intended toseek temptation. We can resist it only when it forces itself on our attention.

Did I tell you that the boys had left off the saltless diet? I noticed that they were getting tired. So at present only Medh, to an extent Mrs. Gandhi, and I are saltless. With me it seems to have come

VOL. 12: 15 JULY, 1911 – 8 MARCH, 1913111

to stay. Even with the simplest diet it is possible to overeat than under-eat. Why then need we multiply dishes?

We had fair rains of late. We are therefore having a good cropof apricots. And so we have the eternal stew.

You want me to discuss with you the Indian tour. It is probably as well not to go. Personally I think that it is time for you to return. But you are the best judge. If, therefore, you wish to stay on and that at Aberdeen, you may do so if Kennedy is agreeable. Please do not mind me. It is no trouble to me to look after things here. At present, it is Miss Schlesin who looks after them. I simply sign and endorse cheques.

There are now 15 boys at the Farm. Some of them are very good but I am not satisfied with one or two of them. I could not reject them as they accepted the conditions on the Farm.With love to you all,

Yours sincerely,UPPER HOUSE

From the original: Gandhi-Kallenbach Correspondence. Courtesy: NationalArchives of India

1. LETTER TO HERMANN KALLENBACH

AHMEDABAD,May 21 [1915]

MY DEAR FRIEND,

Here am I now hoping to settle down. The boys are at theGurukul, Hardwar, I have wired for them and they may be here anyday. Two cottages have been placed at my disposal. They are isolatedfrom this big city. There are 3 acres of ground attached to them.Living there I shall conduct the Institution1 along our lines and shallsearch for an agricultural plot.

I pleaded for admission to the Society after Mr. Gokhale’sdeath as I knew that such was his wish.2 Of course, my admissioncould not mean any alteration of my views. They are too firmly fixedto be altered. I find here nothing but confirmation. I am passingthrough a curious phase. I see around me on the surface nothing buthypocrisy, humbug and degradation and yet underneath it I trace adivinity I missed there as elsewhere. This is my India. It may be myblind love or ignorance or a picture of my own imagination. Anywayit gives me peace and happiness. It fills me with hope and confidencewithout which no man could work.

I wonder if you will stick to your carpentry and restaurantkeeping.Both are good education. Your diary does not even give mean idea of your monthly expenses. Does Polak continue to give yousatisfaction by way of letters?

Do you do any reading at all? Have the rosary and Imitation ofChrist disappeared from your view entirely?

With love,OLD FRIEND

From the original: Gandhi-Kallenbach Correspondence. Courtesy: NationalArchives of India

Hermann Kallenbach

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Gandhi, Sonia Schlesin, Hermann Kallenbach

Hermann Kallenbach (1871–1945) was a South African architect who is best known for being a very close friend of Mahatma Gandhi, starting from the latter’s early days in South Africa.

Early life

Kallenbach was born in 1871 in East Prussia to a German-Jewish family.[1] He went to study architecture in Stuttgart and Munich. In 1896, he went to South Africa, where he practiced as an architect and became a South African citizen.

With Gandhi in South Africa

In 1904 he met Mohandas Gandhi, who was then working in South Africa. He was highly influenced by Gandhi’s ideas of Satyagraha and equality among human beings and became his intimate friend and a dedicated devotee. In 1910 Kallenbach, who was a rich man, donated to Gandhi a thousand acre (4 km²) farm belonging to him near Johannesburg. The farm was used to run Gandhi’s famous “Tolstoy Farm” that housed the families of satyagrahis. Abandoning the life of a wealthy, sport-loving bachelor, he adopted a simple lifestyle, vegetarian diet and equality politics of Gandhi on this farm.[2] In Gandhi’s words, they became “soulmates” and, for a time, shared Kallenbach’s home. Together with Henry Solomon Leon Polak[citation needed], Kallenbach was associated with Gandhi throughout the Satyagraha (non-violent resistance) struggle, which lasted in South Africa until 1914.

As a Zionist

Kallenbach planned to accompany Gandhi to India in 1914, but with the outbreak of World War I, he was detained in England because of his German citizenship. After the war he returned to South Africa, where he resumed his work as an architect, but continued to correspond with Gandhi. The rise of Nazism shocked Kallenbach into a rediscovery of his Jewish roots.

He became a Zionist, served on the Executive of the South African Zionist Federation and planned to settle in Ereẓ Israel. He wanted a society in today’s Israel without a state, military and industry to avoid colonialism through Zionist settlements.[3] At the request of Moshe Shertok (Sharett), Kallenbach visited Gandhi in May 1937 to enlist his sympathy and support for Zionism. However[citation needed], Gandhi continued[citation needed] to maintain a position against Zionism[citation needed] because[citation needed] of the indigenous people already living in Palestine. Although disagreeing with Gandhi over Zionism and also in his (Kallenbach’s) conviction that Hitler had to be resisted by violence, Kallenbach’s deep friendship with Gandhi continued, and he visited him again in 1939.

Death and legacy

Kallenbach died in 1945. He left a portion of his considerable estate for South African Indians, but the bulk was left for the benefit of Zionism. His large collection of books went to the Hebrew University, and his cremated remains were buried at Deganyah.[4]

Kallenbach, to this day, is considered to be one of the foremost associates and friends of Gandhi who devoted a major part of his life to follow his principles and ideals. Gandhi has frequently mentioned him in his autobiography where he explains how he was his ‘soulmate’[5] in the early days of development of his personality and ideologies.

In Richard Attenborough‘s film, Gandhi, Kallenbach’s role was played by Günther Maria Halmer.[6]

Saeed Ajmal had Sachin Tendulkar caught by Shahid Afridi in the covers to place India at 187/5 in 37 overs.

Tendulkar was dropped four times before Afridi grabbed the catch. Tendulkar scored 85 runs off 115 balls with the help of 11 fours.

Wahab Riaz dismissed Virat Kohli and Yuvraj Singh off successive balls to place India at 141/4 in 25.3 overs.

Riaz first had Virat caught by Umar Akmal at backward point and on the next delivery, clean bowled the in-from Yuvraj with a superb reverse swinging yorker.

Tendulkar made Pakistan pay by hitting his 95th ODI half-century.

Tendulkar was first dropped by Misbah-ul-Haq at mid-wicket when he was on 27 and a few overs later Younis Khan dropped a simple catch at mid-off when Tendulkar was at 45. The unlucky bowler at both times was Pakistani captain Shahid Afridi.

India lost their second wicket when Mohammad Hafeez had Gautam Gambhir stumped by Kamran Akmal.

Sachin Tendulkar and Gambhir brought up the Indian 100 in the 16th over.

Tendulkar took India to 73/1 in 10 overs after the dismissal of Virender Sehwag.

Tendulkar survived two close calls in Saeed Ajmal’s second over. On the fourth delivery, the ball hit Tendulkar on the pads, the Pakistani players appealed and umpire Ian Gould raised his finger. Tendulkar opted for the review and the replays showed that the ball was going down the leg side. The decision was overturned.

On the next delivery, Tendulkar missed the doosra while playing a front foot shot and Kamran Akmal took off the bails in a flash. Square leg umpire Simon Taufel went for the third umpire and the replays showed that Tendulkar had brought his right foot down in the crease just in time.

Wahab Riaz trapped Sehwag plumb in front of the wicket after India got off to a fiery start.

Sehwag hit 9 fours in his 25-ball 38 and his onslaught started when he hit five fours off Umar Gul’s second over as India got off to a flying start.

Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and opted to bat as India made one change to the side that beat Australia in the quarterfinals, bringing in pacer Ashish Nehra in place of spinner R Ashwin.

Pakistan have made no change to the team that beat the West Indies in the quarterfinals, deciding against including mercurial pacer Shoaib Akhtar despite widespread speculation before the match.

sachin please retire. i dont want to see you playing. you could have played this only match in your career for india. such a selfish player. you must have played more than 500 odis but you are not equal to 10% of either Sangakara or Dilshan.Agree (1)Disagree (1)Recommend (1)

L Noronha (London)9 mins ago (05:47 PM)

I’ve just seen MS Dhoni get out – it’s a sad day for India and their legions of supporters. Tendulkar played the most scratchy innings I’ve ever seen him play but he managed to get into the 80s. Sehwag played his usual explosive innings and got the team to a good start. Yuvraj had a purple patch which was going to end – shame it was in this game. Gambir is simply not a one day player, more in the mould of a Dravid – punch the ball into the ground and make off for a run! That’s it for the batting line up. But worst of all is Dhoni’s choice to pick Nehra!! This man can’t bat, can’t field and is a potential liability for India in this game. Pakistan to win – despite all the chances they gave India in the field – India will prove no better in this department and their bowling doesn’t even begin to compare with Pakistan’s.Agree (1)Disagree (1)Recommend (1)

Indians are bunch of loosers for watching cricket. When will these stupids realize their team will never win because all the players are only interested in money and they have no guts to play right in any big matches. Cricket is all about money and it is high time people realize that !!!Agree (2)Disagree (2)Recommend (1)

zaheerahmed89 (Islamabad)12 mins ago (05:44 PM)

guys this will be a good match.. paki batting line not good enough to chase 270 even.. per sachin innings was a humiliation and disgrace for him,, worst innings,, ajmal screwed him badly,,, today its proved that he is good only for stats and records only……Agree (2)Disagree (1)Recommend (1)

prabha (qatar )18 mins ago (05:38 PM)

bastards,,,,,,,,,they put india in shameful condition in cricket,,,,,,cricket must be erased from indian mind,,,,tendulkar whole cricket life wasted here with bad cricket,,,,how srilanka given good outing for muraliAgree (2)Recommend (1)

sandeep (Oman) replies to prabha4 mins ago (05:52 PM)

Why call them bastards, they were god for Indians only 6 hours ago they should be given sleeping pills . MSD need to be paraded with half shaved head balckened face on a donkey. He desrves this grand farewell and off course with shoe garland around his neck. Little master should be titled as little rat. We Indians deserve this defeat but perhaps it was less shameful to get defeated from Australia in QF

Z (Mumbai)18 mins ago (05:38 PM)

As an indian supporter, i must say this has been the most painful display of batting. I thought we were supposed to be good at playing spin?? Hopeful if we can get 230Agree (3)Recommend (2)

BImal (KOlkata)20 mins ago (05:36 PM)

dhoni bhai and his band of overconfident bluesAgree (1)Recommend (1)

Later (Mumbai)21 mins ago (05:35 PM)

Captain cool is back in the pavilion to warm the bench…..Agree (2)Recommend (1)

Mr.Cool (hyd) replies to Later10 mins ago (05:46 PM)

You are wrong. He is Mr.Cool and never gets warm……not even at NIGHT …..ha ha ha…

Nishant (Kuwait)22 mins ago (05:34 PM)

Its Amazing that Pakistan has dropped total 6 catches in this match. What would have happened if all catches were held?Agree (2)

GK (UAE)23 mins ago (05:33 PM)

CAPTAIN COOL OUT! LAST NAIL ON THE COFFIN!Agree (2)Recommend (1)

Pradeep (Australia)23 mins ago (05:33 PM)

Never in the annals of Indian cricket has so much been lost by so few. The selectors have killed the contest. Pakistani spinners have shown the way. Munaf and Nehra bleeding runs will be the icing on the cake for the winners. Some days ago I had said Ashwin and Pathan were needed and the quicks were expedient. The events will show this was a correct assessment.Agree (2)Disagree (1)

What about the pressure and emotional discomfort brought about by the media hype? We have not allowed the players to have the much-needed peace of mind.Agree (2)

EnoughisEnough (hyd) replies to Lao Tzu16 mins ago (05:40 PM)

Can BCCI now learn from their mistakes and pick up a captain who gets hot atleast sometimes? Really wonder whether he even gets hotter during nights. This A**H*** has never played a single match as a captain. His arrogance and overconfidence knows no limits at all. He never leads and is not eligible as a leader or captain.Agree (1)Disagree (1)

JP (US) replies to Lao Tzu19 mins ago (05:37 PM)

MS Dhoni does not know how to bat.Agree (1)

Ramesh (Chennai)29 mins ago (05:27 PM)

After the start from Sehwag, Sachin showed his selfish class and with Ashwin being dropped, MSD will have the record of being the first Indian captain to lose to Pakistan in the World Cup.Agree (1)

bhuvan (bahadurgarh)30 mins ago (05:26 PM)

Sachine has proved again that he plays for himself and not for the country. He intended to hit a centuary and his slow game is enough evidance. But I am unable to comprehend how he got five or six lives.Agree (3)Disagree (3)Recommend (2)

Ravi Shankar (New Delhi) replies to bhuvan13 mins ago (05:43 PM)

Hi friend, Sachin played his best given the condition of the pitch. You see in the Pak innings in the evening…there will be many LBWs as ball is drifting away after pitching and resulting in LBWs. Pl.don’t jump into false conclusions like an ordinary cricket fan.Agree (1)Recommend (1)

r c p (delhi) replies to bhuvan13 mins ago (05:43 PM)

You are right .In india they get huge amount from advertisers for indivisual achievments not for team effort so everybody is for stylish shots not for team but for selfAgree (2)

zakir husain (Mangalore) replies to bhuvan18 mins ago (05:38 PM)

What did he do my friend, he was playing his game, if others get out, what he has got to do with that???? Is our team diffending on one person… It is a big mistake if you think so and its everyone’s job to contribute their share of runs…..Agree (2)

DD (Delhi) replies to bhuvan23 mins ago (05:33 PM)

Now Sachin is out lets c team India managed to play 50 overs.Agree (2)

Gary Curson (Mohali)32 mins ago (05:24 PM)

Sorry, Guys! Indian players are comfortable playing with small soft balls, not with hard cricket balls. So, don’t blame Indian team.Agree (3)Disagree (1)Recommend (2)

Shame. India great batting team truly exposed today. Pakistani kids screwed each Indian player. Virender Sehwag is the only one cricketer in Indian team, 10 others are eunuch.Agree (5)Disagree (3)Recommend (4)

Niran (USA)41 mins ago (05:15 PM)

Ind 187/5. Except for the brief flourish from Sehwag, Indian batting is off color. Can our bowlers defend a score of around 250 ?Agree (2)

malyaban (Delhi)41 mins ago (05:15 PM)

Pakistan winners of 2011 world cupAgree (3)Recommend (2)

indian (newdelhi)41 mins ago (05:15 PM)

captain Mr.cool is still out there.. hiding from the strike end:))looks like even at this stage he is not bothered about scoring runs:)Agree (2)Recommend (1)

Sree (Mysore)43 mins ago (05:13 PM)

Hi Friends,This match is already fixed.We can come to after 40 overs.Just see and talk..now also tendulkar’s life time is hardly touching to 4th time.But pakistani’s are not able to catch him..still there is a confusion in front of Pakistan palyers…This bloody dhoni should be dropped from captains place.if india lose this match.His condom maker(nehra) & flute specialist (Munaf) are still around him..bloody fuckers… Where is Sreeshanth & Aswin..India will loose this match without their support..Agree (3)Disagree (3)Recommend (2)

Sanjay (Mumbai) replies to Sree20 mins ago (05:36 PM)

Yes Dear, u r right.

Lao Tzu (TN) replies to Sree31 mins ago (05:25 PM)

Why no mention about Virat Kholi? Why he is still in Indian team?Agree (1)

yasi (delhi)43 mins ago (05:13 PM)

tendulkar gone……………………

TPN (Port Blair)46 mins ago (05:10 PM)

Sachin shines and India looses!!! Predicts one more century from Sachin and another lost match to India.Agree (4)Disagree (3)Recommend (1)

gk (UAE) replies to TPN33 mins ago (05:23 PM)

Don’t worry he’s out!

jobin (kerala) replies to TPN39 mins ago (05:17 PM)

As per all sachin haters prayers sachin is out without scoring century. lets check how many runs india will score..Agree (1)Disagree (1)

Sachin has probably paid to the Pakistan fielders today 5 chances, shame on the Pakistan fielders today. Being such a big player he should go by himself.Agree (4)Disagree (5)

Indian (Europe)58 mins ago (04:58 PM)

If Indian batting not doing well today then I hope bowling will do well today. Come on India…Agree (3)Disagree (2)

Matta (Usa)59 mins ago (04:57 PM)

We are doomed

sim (Doha)1 hr ago (04:54 PM)

Stop being Pessimistic, match is still on, sachin is there.. go india go

Pmg (Mannar Allapuzha Kerala India)1 hr ago (04:54 PM)

dear On line editor, In thus paper oriowe advuce was tenered o all poluers but wgike watching the gane Both Yuvaraj and Kholi did noy pversve these hence out in successve bkks which indicae that both of them were most careless This is bad let tyhem search their mi,imd dated Wednesday 30th2011 time 0455Hrs ist AMAgree (1)Disagree (1)

Ramesh (Chennai)1 hr ago (04:53 PM)

India’s going to lose because of Sachin’s obsession for his personal glory (the Mumbaikar always plays for his 100). Pakistan made a master stroke by dropping him twiceDisagree (1)

Freesanth (Sitting on the boundry trying to behave like a monkey)1 hr ago (04:53 PM)

Not even Kochi Appams will bid for Riaz now!!! no IPL for himAgree (2)Disagree (2)

ONE INDIA (Dubai)1 hr ago (04:43 PM)

Aswin was playing very nice.Why MS dropped him.He could have selected Srishanth in olieu of Nehra.Gosh

NotAFanatic (UP)1 hr ago (04:43 PM)

I hope all future wars between the neighbours are on cricket pitches.Agree (3)Disagree (1)

gk (UAE) replies to Nishan“usif” is not playing. 100 already on the board, its enough!Agree (1)

Abid (Pak) replies to LaterOH YEAH BABY!!!

Pk (India)1 hr ago (04:26 PM)

Disgusting display of batting by India!!!!!!!! Is it fixed?????

Amit Gupta (Noida)1 hr ago (04:25 PM)

Dhoni again putting India’s win on stake and putting his friendship in front. Look at Paki spinners they are taking wickets and fast ballers are getting hammered, but Dhoni decided to choose Nehra over Ashwin.Agree (6)Recommend (4)

Amit (Mumbai)1 hr ago (04:11 PM)

Dhoni should resign from captaincy hes is not able to pick proper team dropped inform Ashwin on a spinning track…..!Agree (8)Recommend (7)

Yes, madam. I read the same…Nehra told this to some of his friends….. good going Dhoni though outside cricket ground. Keep your helicopter shot going on bedroom.Agree (7)Recommend (6)

Niran (USA)1 hr ago (04:08 PM)

Big mistake keeping Ashwin out. When will Dhoni mature? Bad decision. Could make the difference between win and loss.

INDIAN (INDIA)1 hr ago (04:07 PM)

Once again this team selection proved that it is better to have South Indian team and North Indian Team SeparatelyAgree (7)Disagree (5)Recommend (5)

Manoj (atlanta) replies to INDIAN1 hr ago (04:53 PM)

True buddy. This is north Indian team not Indian team. They should have replaced Nehra with Ashwin and that dump Munaf with sreesanth.I want India to loose this match. that Dhoni is useless captain.Agree (1)Recommend (1)

Raj (USA) replies to INDIAN1 hr ago (04:18 PM)

Yeah that would be great! That way we will have a great North Indian team without any incompetencies from the south. Now stay thirsty with sambhar.

Pinaki Mishra (Pinaki)1 hr ago (04:06 PM)

Nehera included.. Aswini out.. Wht is going on!!! Is Nehera going to be match changer like wht he did for South Africa?Agree (6)Recommend (2)

Behra (Ranchi) replies to Pinaki Mishra1 hr ago (04:21 PM)

Nehra, always helped Dhoni in purchasing condoms that Dhoni was not able to do because people followed him up to the pharmacy. You will remember Nehra was invited for Dhoni’s marriage when other players were not invited. So, Nehra is very useful to Dhoni.Agree (8)Recommend (7)

Raj (CA) replies to Pinaki Mishra1 hr ago (04:19 PM)

With a last name of mishra, you are not supposed to understand the Indian captain’s plan.Disagree (3)

With favourtism visible clearly I dont think it is an healthy sign. If India wins it shall be a miracle.

shakeel (kuwait)2 hrs ago (03:40 PM)

Congratulations India you have already won it by batting first. Misbah has just dropped the catch of little master. You have already won it India.

Amit Gupta (Noida)2 hrs ago (03:40 PM)

Dhoni again putting India’s win on stake and putting his friendship in front. Look at Paki spinner, but Dhoni decided to chhose Nehra over Ashwin.Agree (9)Disagree (3)Recommend (4)

gavin (Capetown) replies to Amit Gupta1 hr ago (04:11 PM)

Doni is respected througout the world..He is always under the Indian spotlight..discard him at your perilDisagree (5)

gk (UAE) replies to gavin1 hr ago (04:27 PM)

pepsi!Agree (2)Recommend (2)

Maama (Bomaan)2 hrs ago (03:36 PM)

In last two matches where Harbajan and Aswin played together, there was no double who the better bowler was. Yet traitor Dhoni picks his business partner over te more successful bowler.Agree (12)Disagree (4)Recommend (4)

Pk (india) replies to Maama1 hr ago (04:30 PM)

Dhoni cares a hoot, made his millions,now all energy will be on IPL,baki sab khadde mein,shame on him.Agree (1)

ajith (dubai)2 hrs ago (03:33 PM)

dhoni’s ajenda was very clear from South Africa ie, to keep his men regardless of performance . He avoided sreesanth ,ishant & Ashwin from all one day matches so that their performances will not be counted. all these players are better than the current lot along with Zaheer to win the matches for India. Harbhajan is a certain eventhough his performance is below par. You can see all the spinners in the tournament are performing better than him .But Dhoni has insisted his prescence is important eventhough he is a liabilty like himAgree (9)Disagree (4)Recommend (3)

Nashadh Vyas (Mumbai)2 hrs ago (03:32 PM)

pakistan is as usual doing cheating. try to get players out on every not out. pakistan should learn to play mature cricket or better accept that they are afraid of theri daddy( Sachin Tendulkar). same on you pakistan.Agree (4)Disagree (6)Recommend (1)

M.R. Shaikh (K.S.A.) replies to Nashadh Vyas2 hrs ago (03:53 PM)

If shiv sena has Geniune party then they will not go against sports.They welcome such a great event World Cup final halt in MumbaiAgree (2)Disagree (2)

Dulip (Canada)2 hrs ago (03:31 PM)

If pakistan wins, they maybe an issue in playing the finals . Due to opposition from Politicican old warhorse SHIV SENA BAL THACKERAYAgree (6)Disagree (1)Recommend (2)

Ahmed Muhammad Khan Pathan (Srinagar )2 hrs ago (03:28 PM)

Pakistan will win this world cup. They are the best.Agree (10)Disagree (9)Recommend (4)

My hearty pray for our Team India for their best Victory over Pakistan We believe that India win this semifinal match with comfortable Inshallah, Please don’t critise about team just pray for them it will workout the best result Inshallah Wish you all the best team India JAY HIND.Agree (9)Disagree (3)Recommend (5)

Rafiq (Azamgarh) replies to Mohammed Rafiq2 hrs ago (03:46 PM)

God bless you!! True Indian.Agree (5)Disagree (1)Recommend (3)

S Subramaniam (Chennai)2 hrs ago (03:20 PM)

The decision to drop Ashwin and opting for Nehra may prove to be wrong the way the Pakistani seamer’s are being blasted. Besides, had performed well in the lat two matches. Nevertheless I wish Team India all the best.Agree (5)Recommend (2)

MOHAN (ANGOLA)2 hrs ago (03:19 PM)

NEHRA INN ASHWIN OUT INDIA FORGET THE FINAL

tv krishnaiah (bangalore)2 hrs ago (03:18 PM)

i am sure inadian team will come out in flying colours,Agree (4)Disagree (3)

india already fixed this match with pakistan and paid big amount. Now they playing for fool to watch.

shashank (ksa)2 hrs ago (03:09 PM)

Stupid of Dhoni to drop Ashwin He was the player who got crucial wickets at crucial times against the last two oppositions,Munaf and Nehra are a burden on the feilding side,,,the runs they will leak with their bowling have to be added to the ones they will while fielding ,,, and its difficult for either to get wickets against quality bastmen that Pakis have ,,,,What did he have in his head when he dropped Ashwin ,,,,he could have dropped Munaf if he wanted to play Nehra The evening at mohali is not going to make a difference in the way the bowlers bowl if they cant field too,,,,Agree (10)Recommend (2)

vina (US)2 hrs ago (03:06 PM)

do it for the country and all the senor geneartion of India and we get more Artherton and can the commenatators not jinx it Come on tigersDisagree (1)

ALI KHAN (US)2 hrs ago (03:01 PM)

Don’t just win the world cup, but also heart of millions. Cheers to Dhoni & Co, India Incorporated.

Vinayak Mishra (Delhi)3 hrs ago (02:50 PM)

Best of luck…..our best wishes will always with you. Chakde o Chakde India……..Agree (1)Disagree (1)

Suresh (Kerala)3 hrs ago (02:50 PM)

Now Nehra will ensure that he gives away tons of runs and takes no wicket. Dont understand what Dhoni finds in him inspite of repeated failures!!!

Ramesh Lunkad Lunkad (BELLARY)3 hrs ago (02:48 PM)

THE audience see a joker as joker sees himself as a performer. no martter wat others think, its ur world cup, go on with confidence”.Agree (1)Disagree (1)

GK (UAE)3 hrs ago (02:47 PM)

DROP DHONI FROM PLAYING ELEVEN OF TEAM INDIAN! IF HIS CALIBER AS A CAPTAIN IS SO HIGH, MAKE HIM A NON-PLAYING CAPTAIN. DON’T CHANGE YOUR MIND IF INDIA WINS! WE WILL, THAT’S WHY HE IS STILL IN THE TEAM AS CAPTAIN!Agree (4)Disagree (1)Recommend (1)

Ramakrishnan t (Chennai)3 hrs ago (02:43 PM)

Giving opportunity to bad players is good. but in a important match is not good. Ashwin out is bad decision and nehra in is worst decision.Agree (8)Disagree (1)Recommend (1)

priyanka (jaipur)3 hrs ago (02:42 PM)

chk de INDIA………..Agree (2)Disagree (1)Recommend (1)

M F (Dammam, Saudi Arabia) replies to priyanka2 hrs ago (03:15 PM)

Pakistan will certainly win and no need to worry at all!Agree (4)Disagree (4)Recommend (1)

i have full faith that india will win this match.and i ll pray that my saying turn into reality.all the best to indian team.Disagree (1)

reach4venkat (Chennai)3 hrs ago (02:32 PM)

Maybe Nehra informed Dhoni that he had injected himself with Jonty rhodes serum overnight to change himself into Jonty v 2.0. And Munaf turned himself into McGrath 2.0 in a similar manner. Leaving out your best bowler after Zaheer, Dhoni is going to have some very hard time if things go wrong. Seriously hope and pray that the Batsmen shut Pak out of the game by a mammoth total.Agree (4)Recommend (1)

Hussain (Dubai)3 hrs ago (02:31 PM)

All the best Dhoni….We are waiting to see you lifting the ICC cup….keep rocking

Pavan (Godhra Gujarat)3 hrs ago (02:31 PM)

You are the BEST……….INDIAAgree (1)Disagree (1)

sanjay mittal (yamuna nagar)3 hrs ago (02:31 PM)

bhuwan also watch match boys cheerupDisagree (1)

parthasarathybhattar (chennai)3 hrs ago (02:30 PM)

nehra not in form. ashwin in good form. bad change. but hope for best.Agree (5)Disagree (2)Recommend (3)

prashant (Goa)3 hrs ago (02:30 PM)

If the team is chosen purely on performance then Harbhajan Singh is the one who should have been sitting on the Bench. Come on BCCI, it’s time to ignore the star status and go into the match by selecting players PURELY on the basis of their recent performances. As for Harbhajan Singh, in this world cup he has neither taken wickets nor restricted runs. Under such circumstances, Yusuf Pathan would have been a better bet, as he could at least score some more runs than Harbhajan Singh.

Nehra means no bowling ,no fielding ,& no batting but i dnt know how dhoni took such decision sreesanth wud ve been better choice..atleast after this match dhoni will stop his cheap polticks ..no need to stop hope he will be out of the team…

Shaik (bellary)3 hrs ago (02:28 PM)

I think it is foolish decision to include Nehra in eleven,He is fit to be sixteenth man,to sit on the benches provided for players,In my opinion he is going to be the most hatred player of world cup 2011Agree (4)Disagree (1)

Ramesh (Mumbai)3 hrs ago (02:27 PM)

The wisest of decision lies in the unlikeliest of actions/choices. Choice of Nehra is a good decision, we will see that by end of the day. It is redemption time for Nehra.Agree (1)Disagree (5)Recommend (1)

Mukesh Mishra (Gwalior)3 hrs ago (02:26 PM)

make 300 and win the match best of luck to dhoni and company pak ko dho daloDisagree (2)

(India)3 hrs ago (02:25 PM)

Nice to listen to India and Pakistan National Anthems with moist eyes !Agree (4)Recommend (2)

Dhoni how much mony did you got from pakistanAgree (5)Disagree (3)Recommend (3)

nixon (dubai)3 hrs ago (02:22 PM)

Very sad to note that Ashwin has been replaced by Ashish Nehra because Mr. Dhoni feels that Pakistanis are good at playing spin. Let us wait and see.Agree (9)Disagree (1)Recommend (4)

Pankaj (Raipur, India)3 hrs ago (02:22 PM)

Taking nehra could be a blunder. Team shouldn’t have been disturbed.. Akhtar’s absence would be good for India. All the best Indiaaaa!!!!Agree (7)Disagree (1)Recommend (2)

mandeep walia (Jodhpur)3 hrs ago (02:21 PM)

Best of luck India…. Deekha do…Agree (1)Disagree (3)

indian (pune) replies to mandeep walia3 hrs ago (02:31 PM)

haan khol khol ke :)

shailesh (pune)3 hrs ago (02:21 PM)

All de best India !!!!!!!!!Agree (1)Disagree (3)

Ravish Pareek (Delhi) replies to shailesh3 hrs ago (02:33 PM)

India will win today! hip hip hurrayDisagree (1)

Xyz (Xyz)3 hrs ago (02:21 PM)

I guess the match is already fixed between both PM. Pakistan: if you let us win we will let you probe the 26/11 Mumbai attack. India: now Dhoni & co. Ko desh kay liye Shahidi deni Paregi. lolAgree (3)Disagree (1)Recommend (3)

fdgdfg dfgfd (Bangalore)3 hrs ago (02:21 PM)

India will win this match if and only if Dhoni does not bowl Nehra at allAgree (6)Disagree (1)Recommend (4)

hwg (Hyderabad)3 hrs ago (02:21 PM)

Hats off to Pakistan, irrespective of the outcome of the tournament, that they have come out of the scandals and have managed to present a cohesive team. A large credit goes to Afridi. Let the better team for today win.

rahul (hyderabad)3 hrs ago (02:18 PM)

a stupid decision to left ashwin!!!!…how can dhoni justify removing ashwin and keeping ashish nehra..instead he would have removed kohli or raina or bajji and would have taken nehra…a horrible decision which will be the result we will loose the world cup……Agree (9)Disagree (2)Recommend (4)

(India)3 hrs ago (02:18 PM)

Nehra is playing instead of Ashwin. Navjot Singh Sidhu is getting heart attack. Hope this is not going to cost India the match. Shoaib not playing , surely because of not being in good books of Afridi [just like Sreeshanth] . Maybe leaving out Akthar will be more of a folly than leaving out Ashwin who is even better than Harbhajan !Agree (11)Disagree (2)Recommend (5)

sudam (Auangabad, India)3 hrs ago (02:18 PM)

Shocking to see a match winning bowler replaced by unpredictable and not so accurate Nehra. Munaf continues to be there in the most important and heartstopping match, its difficult to hide him. God bless team IndiaAgree (7)Disagree (1)

sr (chennai)3 hrs ago (02:17 PM)

With Dhoni you can never say. Why has Ashwin been dropped? If we lose today it is because of Dhoni’s team selection, nothing less.Agree (11)Disagree (1)Recommend (5)

samit (delhi)3 hrs ago (02:17 PM)

why this sardar in the team??? he sucks….. cant bat and keeps bowling on leg side!!! throw him out and get ashwin… ashwin can also bat!!!!

ivars58 (Telengana)3 hrs ago (02:16 PM)

Loser Negara is back. Opportunity for Afridi or Razzaq to hit 6 Sixes. Take it Pakistan. You can’t get a better opportunity to have your victory. This is a gift from MSDAgree (11)Disagree (3)Recommend (6)

Dhoni is out of his mind to include Nehra instead of Ashwin!Agree (10)Disagree (2)Recommend (5)

das (Trivandrum) replies to asdf3 hrs ago (02:22 PM)

Send him to mental hospital…Agree (6)Disagree (2)Recommend (2)

s.jayate (Singapore)3 hrs ago (02:15 PM)

What the hell… India is going to win the match. Well fixed by BCCI to promote IPL4. India is going to win the WC.Agree (3)Disagree (3)

Hindu (Delhi) replies to s.jayate3 hrs ago (02:23 PM)

looks like its fixed the other way round. Nehra instead of Ashwin? PatheticAgree (3)Disagree (1)Recommend (1)

Umesh (Bangalore)3 hrs ago (02:15 PM)

Wow G8 Start

Meghraj (UK)3 hrs ago (02:15 PM)

Gosh, NEHRA is back. That’s it – either he performs today or is erased out of our memories forever.Agree (8)Disagree (1)Recommend (2)

sudam (Aurangabad) replies to Meghraj3 hrs ago (02:22 PM)

Nehra is not the main culprit, every1 knows his limitationsAgree (6)

colpasupathy (Hyderabad)3 hrs ago (02:14 PM)

Biggest mistake, I would call it even blunder, is replacing Ashwin with Nehra.Agree (8)Disagree (1)Recommend (4)

anwer samnani (Kl)3 hrs ago (02:14 PM)

*** SRILANKA HAS WON THE CRICKET WORLD CUP 2011 *** May Be Breaking News & Headlines In Media All Around The World On Saturday , April 2, 2011 after 9 PM. Indian Time .Agree (5)Disagree (7)Recommend (2)

Murali (Singapore) replies to anwer samnani3 hrs ago (02:22 PM)

Two things are possible The date could be April 1, 2011 and you will be the only fool who will be seeing that news or it is April 2, 3011, you need to wait a millinium to see your dream, any way be a sportAgree (4)Disagree (1)Recommend (2)

Dhoni will realise, yousuf should have been in place of Bhajji. Both of them are not turning the ball, atleast Yousuf’s qucik 20-30 would matter. Ashwin decision is pathetic. Go India Go, we still want you to win. May be no one to respond all are glued to the TV.Agree (2)Disagree (1)

After attacking Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for inviting his Pakistani counterpart to the Cricket World Cup semi-final match between India and Pakistan, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray has now objected to the Pakistani team performing ‘namaaz’ in Mohali stadium.

“The Pakistani team could have performed namaaz in their rooms, but by doing so on the greens (of the Mohali stadium), they gave a clarion call for a holy war,” Thackeray said in an editorial in party mouthpiece ‘Saamana’.

“Tanks, troops, artillery and missiles have been deployed at Mohali. Is this deployment because there is a match in progress? Such preparedness is not seen during other matches. Why should it be for Pakistanis,” the Sena chief, an avid cricket lover, said.

Thackeray had earlier said, “If Pak President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani can be invited for the match in the name of peace, why should injustice be done to Kasab and Guru,” referring to the main accused in the Mumbai terror attacks and the Parliament attack.

The Shiv Sena has been opposing Indo-Pak cricket ties, saying Indian soldiers were being killed on the border while fighting Pakistan and, “hence, our country should not maintain ties with the neighbouring nation.”

In 2005, Sena activists caused minor damage to the pitch at Mohali, then venue of a Test match between the two countries.

Comments

View all Comments (2) |

In Chennai we have many mental assylums or we can deport this crook to Gaza stripBy: rajkumar | 30-Mar-2011

This mad man – a maggott thrives on the beautiful body of India. He should be sent to a mental asylum or he should be deported to Iran or Gaza strip where he will find he is surrounded by his own kind of brands and he will find good friends.Semi Final – Mohali MatchBy: M F Raza | 30-Mar-2011

Pakistan will certainly win not only in semi final but also in final.

Thank you for submitting your comment. Comments are checked and hence may not show up immediately.

Bal Thackeray’s tantrums about the so called India-Pakistan cricket diplomacy notwithstanding, there has to be a certain deliberate initiative to forward the stalled peace negotiations between these two enemies. In any negotiations of this kind, one has to set aside the past cases of disagreements and or serious rivalries. Actual wars were fought and peace accords were signed. Bal Thackeray is neither a diplomat nor is he capable of seeing the future. His hatred of Pakistan in general and Muslims of both countries is well known. Appreciated by his diehard saffron followers within Shiv Sena and their Sangh Parivar partners, including but not limited to BJP, VHP, ABVP and Marathi hooligans on the street, his policies about anything serious lack maturity. He may rant and rave, may threaten and terrorize general public in Maharashtra/Mumbai but he cannot stop the peace progress. I think, this old man should take a political ‘sanyas’ and retire to Himalaya.

Fans arrive in Chandigarh by a special train from Delhi for the World Cup semifinal match between India and Pakistan. Express photo: Jaipal Singh

As groggy-eyed passengers alighted at the Chandigarh Railway station from the World Cup special train from Delhi, the word cricket was enough to catch their attention and awaken the enthusiasm to root for India.

The semi-final clash between India and Pakistan, considered the final before the final has people from all parts of the country and abroad making a beeline for the city. Keeping in view the rush, the Railways, in an unprecedented manner, arranged for a special train that brought the passengers to the station a little before 4.30 am. The train would return at 12.30 am.

“Its India against Pakistan. There is no way we could have missed this clash,” say Sanjeev and Vineeta, IT professionals from Delhi who came on the train along with their son Shorya.

Vineeta says, “This is the first time that I would be watching a match in a stadium, though my husband and son have seen matches before. In fact I do not follow the game very closely. However, I am very excited about this match.”

The family hopes that despite the dignitaries scheduled to come for the match, the common people would not have to face much trouble.

The late night rain and thundershowers gave jitters to many with cricket enthusiasts praying fervently that the skies would clear up. The prayers seem to have been answered. As the passengers alighted from the train and looked towards the sky, the shining stars brought a smile to their faces.

Prashant, who is working in TCS flew all the way from Chennai to Delhi and then caught the special train to Chandigarh. “I got lucky and managed to get the tickets for the match. The rain gave quite a scare, but with the weather having cleared its time to root for India,” he said.

Accompanying him was Meghrath who is a student in Delhi. He says, “While we had tickets for the semi-final we were not sure whether we would be coming here or not. But after India beat Australia, there were no second thoughts. We never know when the World Cup would be held in India again or when we would get a chance to watch such a game.”

While both of them have no friends in Chandigarh, they plan to spend some time at the station and then head straight for the stadium. The station was bustling with activity in the wee hours. Apart from the cricket fans, police personnel were present in large numbers. The fans have no doubts that India would win the challenge hands down. For Vineet and Shalini it is love for the game that has brought them here. They chorus that India would definitely win the match and the World Cup.

“We have not missed any World Cup match till now. Our offices have television and we make sure to catch the action. A clash between India and Pakistan is something that no cricket fan would want to miss,” state the duo.

Another cricket enthusiast S K Sharma came to the city along with his family to watch the match. He says, “We have been traveling for the past two days. We reside in Indore and from there we reached Delhi to board the World Cup special train. We are all very excited about the match. Watching the match in the stadium with thousands of fans is an experience that is worth relishing. Especially in this case where it is an Indo-Pak match.”

While most of the passengers had the much in demand tickets with them, there were some who had come to the city just to try their luck at gaining entry. Rajesh Kumar who traveled all the way from Bhagalpur while brimming with enthusiasm says that he would be heading to the stadium and try to get the tickets.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today asked security agencies to improve their professional standards and build better infrastructure to counter the “new generation” of terrorists who have acquired State-like military capabilities in their fighting strategies and tactics.

“The number of important dignitaries at risk from terrorists has also been rising and this is a cause for major concern for governments across the globe,” he said addressing the 26th Raising Day of Special Protection Group (SPG).

He said India is no exception particularly since it has been fighting cross-border terrorism for almost three decades.

Singh said that the threat of terrorism today has acquired new dimensions and it recognised no borders and transcends geographical limits and constraints.

“The new generation of terrorists possesses far greater capability to create networks for sharing knowledge, skills and resources. They have acquired State-like military capabilities in many of their fighting strategies and tactics,” the Prime Minister said.

Though the role of internal security agencies in the country in ensuring peace and stability was better appreciated today than ever before, he said there was no doubt that the police and security authorities could be much more effective by improving their professional standards and build more appropriate and better infrastructure.

Noting that the SPG was making constant efforts to improve its tactical response to meet the ever-changing threats, Singh hoped it would go all out to operationalise and put in place its new counter-terrorist arm Special Intervention Unit at the earliest.

While complimenting the SPG for providing security cover to SPG protectees, he said in a democratic polity, it is essential that the top political leadership should be visible and easily accessible and at the same time, the concerns of security also needed to be taken care of.

“It is in this contradiction that SPG needs to manage,” he said and urged the Force to do more to minimise the levels of inconvenience faced by the ordinary citizens.

The Prime Minister assured the SPG that it would get all that it requires to upgrade its infrastructure and the skills of its personnel.

Comments

View all Comments (1) |

Countering The Terrorism MenaceBy: Lewis Sooting | 30-Mar-2011

Prime Minister’s call in this message does not hold any water as challenging these new age terrorists will need new age generations who think ahead and are not bogged down by old age politicians whose primary ambition is to remain in power and avail of all levels of luxury and security protection while they open their mouths and utter dialogues that hurt the sentiments of the side-lined public. It is easy to sweet-talk the masses into believing you can work wonders, but it is the politicians who need to show strong character and bold attitude to guide the nation through times of turmoil and destruction including loss of innocent lives by terrorist attacks. Let not the Govt. sleep over this sensitive issue and stop all talk of cross border terrorism when we fail to inculcate an environment of peace, trust and national bonding as one nation, one people. So long as we remain divided, terrorists will forever gain the upper hand and continuously strive to cause fear among the people.

Post a Comment

View all Comments (1)

Thank you for submitting your comment. Comments are checked and hence may not show up immediately.

Lewis Sooting has hit the nail on the head. Indian government does not address the basic causes of the Hindu-Muslim conct. Muslims are targeted by Hindu Parivar for as long as I remember. K B Hedgevar with the moral and material help from his adopted father, Moonje of Nagpur founded the most combative organization, ‘Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh,’ in Nagpur in 1925. This Brahmin secret society has since then mushroomed into a veritable deadly force with front organizations split into social, labor and student strata. What can be done at the border has been done and nothing more is possible. The enemy is within. Divisions are in the Hindu population not in Hindu-Muslim/minority. Government has failed in stopping Hindu terrorism. Actual terrorism as in the RSS/Parivar finctionaries like Pragya Devi Thakur, Aseemanand, Purohit and Sunil Joshi planning and executing bombing Muslim places of worship in Ajmer, Hyderabad and Malegaon and conducting concerted campaigns of verbal hatred.

CHANDIGARH: Hoping to better ties between the two countries, Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani arrived here on Wednesday to watch the high-voltage World Cup cricket semifinal between India and Pakistan.

The Pakistan Air Force flight carrying Gilani and his delegation landed at the Chandigarh airport around 12.25pm. Gilani, who is here at the invitation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, was received by union minister of state for communications Sachin Pilot.

A little later, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrived here to watch the semi-final between India and Pakistan and to hold talks with his Pakistan counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani.

Singh arrived at the military airport here at around 1:30pm and drove straight to the Punjab Cricket Association’s stadium at Mohali.

Earlier today Gilani expressed his happiness at the resumption of dialogue between India and Pakistan and said both he and his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh were committed to work for peace and prosperity in the region.

“As far as our relations are concerned, I am happy that our talks have resumed. The talks between the interior secretaries were conducted in a positive manner. I appreciate that,” Gilani said shortly before leaving for Mohali to watch the blockbuster India-Pakistan semifinal. The two-day meeting of the home secretaries of India and Pakistan ended in New Delhi yesterday.

Gilani, who is visiting India at Singh’s invitation to watch the match, described his Indian counterpart as an experienced politician with a positive attitude. It will be Gilani’s first visit to India after becoming prime minister in March 2008.

“He (Singh) wants to work for peace and prosperity in this region. We are both committed to this and we want the environment to improve so that we can serve the people,” he said.

“I have never seen him (Singh) being negative about this. I have always found him to be positive,” Gilani told reporters at Chaklala military airbase in Rawalpindi before taking off for India.

Gilani said he expected his visit to lead to “some progress” between the two countries and “an improvement in relations”. Besides, the Pakistan team “will get a boost”, he added.

Asked if he would try to move from playing “a one-day series to a longer series” during his talks with Singh at Mohali, Gilani replied: “Naturally when we go (to India), the talks will be held according to the opportunity.”

In response to another question on whether he would bowl a googly to Singh, Gilani said, “I am going to watch the cricket match. It’s too early to expect (anything).”

Thanking Singh for inviting him to watch the match, Gilani said he was travelling to Mohali to show solidarity with the Pakistani and Indian teams and to promote cricket.

Singh will also host a dinner for Gilani after the match.

“Keeping in mind the feelings of the two countries, I am going (to India). Both teams have qualified for the semifinal and I very hopeful that their performance will be very good,” he said.

Gilani said he had also spoken to Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi amd conveyed the country’s good wishes to him.

“I will tell the people of both countries to enjoy (the game) and appreciate their performance. I spoke to (Pakistani captain) Shahid Afridi on the phone and I conveyed the country’s prayers to him. Our team’s morale is very good,” he added.

Responding to another question on whether he would ask Singh to send the Indian cricket team to Pakistan, Gilani said, “We are passing through some difficult times and we are fighting the war on terrorism.

The whole country, leadership and people are united on creating a conducive environment in Pakistan. If we will create a better environment, certainly we will request him.”

“The entire leadership and all political parties, including minorities and all regions and provinces, are represented in the delegation and the objective is to show that the whole country is united,” he said.

Pakistan’s Foreign Office said yesterday that Gilani and Singh are expected to discuss “all issues of mutual interest” on the sidelines of the cricket match.

“The two prime ministers are expected to have a conversation on all issues of mutual interest on the sidelines of the cricket match,” Foreign Office spokesperson Tehmina Janjua said.

Gilani’s presence in Mohali “signifies the tremendous enthusiasm of the people of Pakistan for cricket” and “coincides with the resumption of the Pakistan-India dialogue process”, Janjua said in a brief statement.

The two Prime Ministers will meet “at this important sports event and watch the match together”, Janjua said.

Comments (50)

Recommended (13)

Sid Harth Harth (USA)5 mins ago (03:50 PM)

While fans on both sides of the India-Pakistan are praying/cheering for their country’s resounding win for their cricket tea,s leaders are holding their breath for the final outcome. Looks like Mahabharat, all over again. Or is it? That epic was written to depict a final war on two forces, one purposely and deliberately painted as black, evil and destructive. What I read from the usual comments on this article, I get the distinct impression that in this cricket match at Mohali, Pakistan is described as an evil party and India as the virtuous. The constant badgering of the Dr Manmohan Singh led UPA government on various and sundry issues notwithstanding, the opposition led by BJP should simmer down, hold their instant criticism by controlling their minions on the internet to allow the peace initiative. I wish both, India and Pakistan best luck. Mohali is not Kurukshetra and two leaders, Dr Manmohan Singh and Yousuf Raza Gilani are not Arjun and Duryodhan. …and I am Sid Harth

rajiv (uk)46 mins ago (03:03 PM)

MMS is a disaster as PM–make him FM. He has no idea of india as a sovereign country –He will do the same mistake of Ref of Baluchistan as he did in Sham el sekh (egypt) with pak joint statement.

Mk (London)1 hr ago (02:19 PM)

Mr. MMS can you please let the people of India know what is the progress of 26/11?

smali (Riyadh)1 hr ago (02:17 PM)

The time is ripe for extending an invitation for the SL PM to come to Mumbai to watch the ICC 2011 final.

sheela (Netherlands)1 hr ago (02:12 PM)

I don’t think that these pakis are honest with what they say… Not only in India but also in Afghanistan they are harbouring terror. Every day explosions and killiing of innocent people in Afghanistan is a commited job of ISI under Gilani government.. So never ever believe them…Agree (3)Disagree (2)Recommend (3)

JOHN (UAE)1 hr ago (02:10 PM)

Match is fixed. Sreesanth and Ashwin avoided as per the bookies. Criminal offence by Dhoni. If India looses then the picture will be clear.

Khan (Jeddah)1 hr ago (02:09 PM)

Indian Government is generous in opening gates for Pakistanis and their bunch of terrorists ….. in the name of cricket & friendship …….. ….. When any terrorist attack occurs , the government start blaming it on Muslim community …..Agree (5)Disagree (1)Recommend (2)

tauseef (saudi arabia) replies to Khan1 hr ago (02:14 PM)

shame on u by saying this.Agree (1)Disagree (2)

Vinoy Sinha (Ranchi)1 hr ago (02:03 PM)

Manmohan, the most incompetent Prime Minister India has ever had has found a way to distract people’s attention from all the scams that he has presided ever since he became Prime Minister.But this is just a few hours’ CHANDNI;phir andheri raat! This will prove an exercise in futility for him.

anwer samnani (Kl)1 hr ago (02:01 PM)

SRILANKA HAS WON THE CRICKET WORLD CUP 2011 May Be Breaking News & Headlines In Media All Around The World On Saturday , April 2, 2011 after 9 PM. Indian Time .Agree (2)Disagree (4)

The Crucket is based on luck.But I hope in final India vs Sri lanka will play

Boycott Apple (Bangalore)1 hr ago (01:55 PM)

People this is a cricket match… a sports event. Lets enjoy and let the leaders of the two nations also enjoy it. Why bring politics here. Well if we are still to show the animosoity to Pak on 26/11 then, we(BCCI) shouldnt have alloted any indian venue for a match involving Pakistan !

Truthi (India, Mumbai)2 hrs ago (01:47 PM)

Lets hope they “play cricke” in more ways than one…!

ushetty (mumbai)2 hrs ago (01:37 PM)

Don’t give too much of importance to Pak ministers. Media should have learnt this when Musharaf visited India. Pl have some self respect.Agree (9)Disagree (3)Recommend (4)

Shashank (india)2 hrs ago (01:36 PM)

Let jilani answer why the peace talks with india were stalled and are now starting after 2 years again on india’s initiative. And let him also publically promise that he will not stab india in the back again after these peace talks- which is a habit with these pakis. Just see what happened after the peace initiative Vajpayee made- it immediately led to Kargil invasion. And I dont understand when the masterminds of mumbai are still not handed over to india, why is singh so eager to start peace process all over again.Agree (5)Disagree (2)Recommend (2)

Welcome to Chandigarh Mr Gilani and the entire delegation. Pls enjoy Indian hospitality and a wonderful game of cricket (shaan sey)…. I wish for your pleasant stay and a safe journey back to home (via England i hear)….Agree (9)Disagree (2)Recommend (4)

Ritesh Nath (Bhubaneswar) replies to bender.fry1 hr ago (01:51 PM)

@bender- you forgot to add “Mr Gilani, as soon as you reach pakistan(the country of terrorists) kindly instruct the ISI and other terrorist organisations to plan another attack on India, as it happened in the past during Kargil war when India tried to extend the hands of friendship towards Pak, so that our politicians can revisit the history, but there is less hope that they will learn anything”Agree (4)Disagree (1)Recommend (2)

Arun (Tokyo)2 hrs ago (01:32 PM)

PM MMS is playing the carrot and stick (read cricket)with the Paki PM. First invite him to watch the match and then use his stick (no innuendos) to tame him down. On a more serious note, I hope this “crickon-meeting” .helps improve ties between the two countries. It was a positive gesture by PM MMS and well responded by Gilani and Team. Now going forward, India needs to take leadership in the dialogue and put forth the demands to bring 26/11 plotters to task, curb terrorist influx from Pakistan and peace for Kashmir. HAIL CRICKETER!!Agree (3)Disagree (6)Recommend (4)

RAvi (Bangalore)2 hrs ago (01:28 PM)

Let the GAME begin between 2 country players and let the TALKS begin between 2 country politicions…

Rons (HK)2 hrs ago (01:27 PM)

Its up to Pakistan what & how they look up to India. India learn to move forward to become world power without much of neighborly friendship or goodwill relation. Pakistan seriously has to look back the history pages before the partition and reconcile with what exactly gone wrong, once the time we all use to live together peacefully and fought the intruders.

Samip (Mumbai)2 hrs ago (01:25 PM)

Did u ask us before resumption of dialogue with pakistan ? We indian dont want it … and PM is just a service man…not the owner of the country .. No dialogues with PakAgree (9)Disagree (9)Recommend (4)

Fiona (Dubai) replies to Samip1 hr ago (02:13 PM)

@ Samip – The word’s “elections”- the ministers you vote for act on your behalf – vote wisely next time ;-)

Gurdev (Patiala) replies to Samip1 hr ago (01:59 PM)

Did Gandhi asked Punjabies and Bengalies before bifurcating their states. I read some comments from Mumbaikars talking about killings 26/11 so not to resume talks, have you guys ever thought what after that. Should the world stop there. One has to move on. Have Young generation ever thought how many Bengalies and Punjabies and Sindhies died during the partition, but still the life moves on. We still have our old family members talking about those horrific times. But they never say not to talk with Pakistan because trouble creators are always a small number. So try discussing these things with positive mind set…… for time being enjoy the match of cricket…..Disagree (1)

Brinder Saigal (Sarajevo) replies to Samip2 hrs ago (01:46 PM)

Samip, sorry to say but its people with thoughts like yours who are a problem for the improvement of relations between the two countries. As Dr. Manmohan Singh very rightly said, ‘The two nations have a shared destiny’Agree (4)Disagree (2)Recommend (2)

@brinder- of course both the nations have a shared destiny and to achieve it, India should also finance home grown terrorist organisation who starts the so called “jihad” in Pakistan and kill there innocent people. Then only e can call it tit for tat. Initiating peace talks in return of massacrer in no way represents shared destiny.Agree (1)

aman (india(delhi)) replies to Samip2 hrs ago (01:41 PM)

you are just an individual son…you don’t speak for India. Many Sensible Indian want peace…not everyone is a fanatic like you.

Fiona George (Dubai) replies to Samip2 hrs ago (01:34 PM)

@ samip – that’s what elections are held for … the ministers you elect act on your behalf .. hence, vote wisely next time ;-)Agree (5)Disagree (3)Recommend (2)

HANS (Google Earth.) replies to Fiona George1 hr ago (02:00 PM)

@Foina.. But in India i don’t see any politician of enough worth to wote for prime minister seat.. ALL are just feeling their bank accounts on normal peoples taxes. If there is one lke ghadaffi or Mubarak could be understood but, unfortunately my country is full of them.. every state is full of corrupted politicians.. I Wish for a better political future of india but seems hard…

shibuTV (singapore)2 hrs ago (01:21 PM)

forget about cricket when you talk about terrorism. we need an action from PAK premier. “just do what you say” all problems will be solved in few days. we hear their sermon since 9/11 but nothing changed on PAK soil. does Gilani has that extra guts to show that?? wait n see

naveen (faridabad)2 hrs ago (01:20 PM)

may this friendship gesture turns to be reality on all issues !!!!!!

anwer samnani (KL)2 hrs ago (01:17 PM)

Mohali, Chandigarh Weather – 30th March – Rain, Heavy Cloud Cast Lightning – Indo Pak Match heads to Lay Off . Weather agencies have said Sunny Day but conditions at Chandigarh are worsening minute by minute. Sources said. With over 30 Billion Indian Rupees invested and more in Betting. This could be one hell of a match if its whatever. Lets play oops pray it does not .!Agree (3)Disagree (3)Recommend (1)

Pradeep (Bangalore)2 hrs ago (01:17 PM)

Our bowling failed, our batsmen didn’t click, out fielding was sloppy I want no excuses like this from INDIA….I want “Our batsman gave a flying start, bowlers did a fantastic job, In fielding we nearly saved 75 to 100 runs”…I want this words from Dhoni to be scripted on field….Agree (7)Recommend (3)

GMZ Ahsan (Gurgaon) replies to Pradeep2 hrs ago (01:43 PM)

Indian team will show a great game. They are always sponsored by successful private entrepreneurs, not by government of IndiaAgree (1)

Tenzin (bangalore) replies to Pradeep2 hrs ago (01:27 PM)

Yes, i agree with you pradeep. no excuse accepted! Go india go go . …the world cup deserved to be ours this time.. we are the championAgree (3)

ok no issue drop it to 30 to 50… now its realistic right .. go india go

Ali Kazim (Paksitan)2 hrs ago (01:10 PM)

I am the Final at Melbourne.I m the last ball at Sharjah. I invented the reverse swing. I mastered the multiple hat-trick. When they wouldn’t let me play at home, I drifted wherever I could. I am the Sultan of Swing. I beat the Windies in the ’80s. I am the Champion of Crickets. I am the unpredictable. I AM PAKISTAN !Agree (4)Disagree (14)Recommend (4)

GMZ Ahsan (Gurgaon) replies to Ali Kazim2 hrs ago (01:49 PM)

Ali Kazim is in great spirit of game. Terrorism is sponsored by Pakistan government & religous fanatics, whom general public detests. Every game is to be enjoyedAgree (1)Disagree (1)Recommend (1)

imtiaz (KSA) replies to Ali Kazim2 hrs ago (01:45 PM)

Today you will be loser ( because of all the proud showing your letter. God won’t like yours Bade Bol.

jaswinder (mohali) replies to Ali Kazim2 hrs ago (01:43 PM)

Ali you are great Pakistan is also great. One will won match from other. But we should be together to won among poverty, criticism, illitracy we also need googlies to won the real game that is being played with our lives. think about humanities.Agree (1)Disagree (1)

Srikanth (India) replies to Ali Kazim2 hrs ago (01:39 PM)

Pakistan never beaten India in world cup remember 2003 world cup what sachin and sehwag did My dear PakistaniAgree (3)

cocomo (Mumbai) replies to Ali Kazim2 hrs ago (01:34 PM)

I repeatedly thrash you whenever I see you. I am Sehwag!

Santosh Kumar (Mumbai) replies to Ali Kazim2 hrs ago (01:30 PM)

Good Luck, Ali. I liked your last sentence that Pakistan is unpredictable. Let’s see what they’re going to do today on field. Being an Indian, I would pray to God that Indian team performs better.Agree (1)

I am the Land where the God of Cricket resides. I am the Land where all communities live together peacefully. I am the Land where all Great Religions of the World took their birth. I am the Fountainhead of all Languages and all Knowledge. I am the land of Vedas, Upanishads and the GITA !! I am the land purified by the holy chanting of Gayatree by the rishis and sages over millenia. All religions, philosophies and theories merge in Me. I am the Father of All. I am the Mother of All. I love all. I bless all. I am beyond Win or Loss. I am beyond Life and Death. I am the Eternal. I AM BHARAT !!

zakir husain (Mangalore) replies to Ali Kazim2 hrs ago (01:26 PM)

That you will come to know when you become loser today!Agree (3)Disagree (2)

Dear Ali kazim, if you add the terroism part from your country, All that you wrote becomes null and voidAgree (4)Disagree (1)Recommend (1)

JATBOY22 (Rohtak(Haryana)) replies to Ali Kazim2 hrs ago (01:21 PM)

You are the oval gate fiasco.You are the ball biting in australia.You invented match fixing.You mastered the art of cheating .No one plays you home as you are the home of terrorists.You are the losers.YOU ARE PAKISTANAgree (9)Disagree (2)Recommend (6)

GANDHINAGAR: Gujarat government today banned the controversial book `Great Soul; Mahatma Gandhi and His Struggle With India’ by Pulitzer-winning author Joseph Lelyveld in the state.

The announcement was made by the Chief Minister Narendra Modi in the state Assembly here today, and the opposition Congress supported the decision.

Sale, distribution, publication, broadcast of the book have been banned in the state with immediate effect.

“The writing is perverse in nature. It has hurt the sentiments of those with capacity for sane and logical thinking,” Modi said after announcing the ban.

“This attempt to defame Mahatma Gandhi by the publisher has come under severe criticism not only in Gujarat but from all corners of India,” he added.

“Mahatma Gandhi is an idol not only in India but in the entire world. While his life — dedicated to the welfare of the mankind — has been an inspiration, the author has hurt the sentiments of crores of people,” he said.

Modi also said that the book should be banned across the country, and demanded a public apology from the author.

Readers’ opinions (39)

Recommended (4)

KM (USA)Has Narendra Modi read this book? Has any one in India read this book?

Sid Harth Harth (USA)0 min ago (04:25 PM)

Book banning is not a solution. Sonia Gandhi is a powerful person. She also forced Indian government to ban a book that defamed her image. Iran clerics issued a fatwa against a book that purportedly defame prophet Muhammad. Bunch of NCP party thugs belonging to Sambhaji Brigade attacked and ransacked Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute’s library. Maharashtra government banned a Marathi book/play “mi nathuram godse boltoy.” supposedly maligning the image of Mahatma Gandhi. Both communist countries former USSR and current China banned books more than one occassion. I am a diehard fan of Mahatma Gandhi and so is my wife. We have read many, if not all books about Mahatma Gandhi. Majority of these books describe him as a true leader of India. However, no matter who wrote them and how much each book was based upon research, certain section, let us say, Saffron section would never admit Mahatma Gandhi as a true Hindu. His assassination by Nathuram Godse proves saffron mentality. Mahatma Gandhi was very frank about his experiments. This eighty year old man wanted to make one experiment on his sexuality. The experiment involved sleeping along with his two constant companions, Manu and Abha. Nudity is involved. In another instance Mahatma Gandhi, as a young student on his way to England, was busy having sex with his wife while all others were anxiously waiting outside in his house. Mahatma Gandhi was also described as hyper-sexual visiting brothels with his Muslim friend.Of

Urdaddy (Moscow)22 mins ago (04:03 PM)

What!! A guy from (Melbourne) calling Indians gay and racist!!!!! Its like a prostitute lecturing about her/her virginity.

Marshal (Goa)26 mins ago (03:59 PM)

I wonder how many people who have posted their comments have read the book!Agree (1)Jonathan (Melbourne)31 mins ago (03:54 PM)

So Ghandi was gay and a racist. Sounds like your typical Indian male to me.Disagree (3)

naughty mighty (India) replies to Jonathan9 mins ago (04:16 PM)

but you can’t blame typical Indian males for Australia’s early ouster from the WC, they were all professional Indian cricketers and it was “Maa ki” and not “Monkey”, got that you convict?

Majority of readers already criticized the ban. But please consider these points: 1. Government has shown super pro-activeness in this matter. There could be 1 out of 10^10 examples where government has shown such pro-activeness. 2. All parties – left, right, center seem to echo each other on this. 3. Government by and large seem to consider a book a tangible property which can be blocked, destroyed etc. They do not consider there could be a digital version, quotations, Google book versions that can be read by the poor people of India 4. Presumably Government is yet to receive a copy of the book, read it, consult with the lawyers, before banning it. It shows that Government (in India) can and is willing to take action without due diligence and following the norms of natural justice. Such expediency was not shown in myriad other cases – you all know the example. 5. Government often tells the general public like us that they can not take steps based on newspaper reporting alone. Well, here is a classical example, where Government has imposed a ban on the book prima facie based on newspaper reports. 6. As far as insensitivity to reasoned critique is concerned, Governments in India has shown similar attitude as shown by China, Iran, etc.etc.Agree (1)

naughty mighty (India)41 mins ago (03:44 PM)

Freedom of speech is a universal right of each and every human being protected by United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Thank You.Agree (2)Disagree (2)

muraleedharan.a.c (Kochi. Kerala)53 mins ago (03:32 PM)

Mahatma Gandhi is not a mere individual. He is the father of our beloved nation The New found negative revelation have some ulterior motives is a foregone conclusion. Freedom of thought and speech doesn’t mean to be a right to tarnish anybody for the purpose of popularity and vested interests. If these people were so much liberal in their thinking they should have tried their luck with Muslim or christian religious leaders. Then they will realize what it is. The Hindus have become so timid and shameless to allow all these nonsense in the name of tolerance. Mr.Modi has once again proved his mettle.Agree (4)Recommend (2)

Dear Mr Muralleedharan AC, I also like Mahatma Gandhi and his Economic and Social Philosophy.Before Father there will not be a Son. Is there no India before Gandhiji?Has he created India? India is unified from Kashmir to Kanyakumari by Hinduism Religiously,by its classics and way of life socially.Political Unity ha sbeen brought by British Rule.Agree (1)

karavadiraghavarao (Vijayawada-)1 hr ago (03:17 PM)

Even if it is banned in India those who want to read it can get it through Internet and other sources.The stature of Mahatma Gandhi is not so fragile that it will diminish by a book of an Author.Agree (6)Disagree (1)

R.Sahni (Delhi)1 hr ago (03:16 PM)

Gujarat has a long history of banning books, based on hearsay, rather than the actual content of the books and independent analysis of the contents. The other report carried in this paper that the book is insightful and accurate needs to be highlighted.Agree (3)Disagree (1)

Sukanya Kadyan (Delhi)1 hr ago (03:04 PM)

Gandhian Ideologist, philosopher and social reformer Naresh Kadyan moved complaint with the HE the President of India bearing Grievance Registration Number is : PRSEC/E/2011/04750 dated 30-3-2011 about controversial book on Mahatma Gandhi, like wise matter taken up with the Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances, Government of India vide registration number MOOIA/E/2011/00025 on dated 30-3-2011.

U.Rajarama Shetty (Bengaluru)1 hr ago (02:59 PM)

Do we still leaving in the mid eval Period? Let people express their Opinions why ban Books?It is only for Publicity. Govt is not allowing Public to discuss and Debate.Agree (3)Disagree (1)Recommend (2)

Aditya (A) replies to U.Rajarama Shetty1 hr ago (03:22 PM)

Do you even know that he gave freedom to our nation ? If you think insulting Mahatma Gandhi is expressing opinions then its sad that you dont love India.Making fun of our great leaders is always supported by shameless people like you. That is why they have courage to write anything.Agree (2)Disagree (3)Recommend (1)

doubt (bangalore) replies to Aditya33 mins ago (03:52 PM)

from which shop gandhi bought the freedom by the way?

Shyam (Chennai) replies to Aditya41 mins ago (03:44 PM)

I think banning a book is illogical.A book cannot convert the mind unless the mind wants to. If this is the case, Gandhi’s portrait should be removed from all currency as alot of currency in involved in hawala which is a insult to him. Furthermore, he was not materialistic or crave money, so it is an irony he is the symbol of and on it.

tanu (delhi) replies to Aditya50 mins ago (03:35 PM)

You said Mahatma Gandhi gave freedom to India. Kindly read the history books again. You will be surprised that this is not a true fact.

Sankar (Blore)1 hr ago (02:56 PM)

Think about this…Somebody is writing perverse things about another person who is dead and not available to defend. Is this not unfair ? Would you like this if someone did this about some of your ancestors ? This is abuse of freedom.

kranti (Navsari)1 hr ago (02:38 PM)

Let people read the book and make their own judgement.Agree (1)

Sonali K (Kuwait)1 hr ago (02:36 PM)

Sad we keep banning things in a democracy. Specially without doing due diligence about whether its true or not. India and Indians need to be more mature in accepting other people’s viewsAgree (3)Disagree (6)Recommend (2)

abc (london) replies to Sonali K59 mins ago (03:26 PM)

do this for Kuran in any muslim country and see. good you are in india…

K.Parameshwar (Mysore)1 hr ago (02:35 PM)

Dear pseudo seculars,if Narendra Modi and Gujarat have the guts to ban this book on Gandhi,then you all must make it a point to publish this book with all its attacks on Gandhi.Pls dont let Modi win even if it is at the cost of Gandhi.Recommend (1)

Couldn’t make head or tail. Typical Indian mentality. This is an English newspaper, not Hindi

Dwj (Mumbai)1 hr ago (02:28 PM)

Gujarat govt has the locus standi to do it. Because they ban anything that is blasphemous be it against any god or goddess or against any respected leader of the country. However this will not suit our secularists. They will not like any material to be banned if it is against Hindus or Hinduism. Freedom of expression will become the plank to attack from. Banning will be infringement of the birth right, constitutional right so on and so forth of the author. If it is against minorities, nothing except banning will satisfy them. The limits prescribed by the minorities is the permissible sprawl of freedom of expression for the author and of course freedom of expression in such matters will not include freedom to insult others. Hindus will not be conferred such priviledges. Now, where will all those proponents of freedom of expression will keep their face if other govrnments which refused to ban other blasphemous books which are necessarily anti-Hindu, readily ban this book?

Gautam (Mumbai)1 hr ago (02:27 PM)

This Modi is both smart and also playing to the gallery. What a stupid thing to do. Why ban a book? If you don’t agree or like, don’t read. Now he banned a book on the Mahatma and Congress supported. Next he will ban a book on say the Gujarat riots and the Congress won’t be able to oppose it. What a ploy…

pradip khimani (junagadh)1 hr ago (02:26 PM)

welland timely decision by government of gujarat. Actually such authors and publishers should be punished.Pradip Khimani Junagadh 9426717000Agree (2)Disagree (2)

Vincent (Bangkok)2 hrs ago (02:23 PM)

Most Western journalists/ monkey-authors try to make money by debunking well-established idols. The treatment they deserve is a solid thumping on the backside. Are there not enough Man-Indians in US to do this ? Alas, Hindu-India, thy name is Mr. Impotent.

Sudhir M (Pune)2 hrs ago (02:21 PM)

Do sympathize with any Government which has to ban a book. Considering how close-minded we are in digesting disagreeable information – even if it were proven true later – what option does the government have? Banning books, or, any information for that matter reflects poorly on ourselves. We may disregrad a book, we may refute what’s written in a book, but ban any book we must not.Agree (4)Disagree (4)Recommend (2)

Ganeshan (Bangalore)2 hrs ago (02:20 PM)

Foolish act. It was made clear that the writer never made any suggestions tothat effect. It was the reviewer in the Daily Mail who put these ideas. To ban a book based on the review is illogical.

ANKITA UPADHYAY (india)2 hrs ago (02:13 PM)

ONLY PROBLEM, WITH INDIA IS THAT, INDIA LIKES APPRECIATION , WHICH SHOULD BE BUTTERING ONE, BUT INDIA HATES CRITICISM WHICH IS HONEST, NO MAN OR PERSON IS BORN WITH DOING ONLY GOOD DEEDS, NOT EVEN GANDHI JI, WE ALL ARE AWARE OF HIS BHRAMCHARYA PRACTICE, SO I AM NOT SHOCKED IF HE WAS BISEXUAL…., BUT STILL GANDHI G HAD SOMETHING UNIQUE IN HIM, HE GAVE MANTRA OF SATYA, AHIMSA AND TOLERANCE…., ONE SHOULD NOT FORGET THAT, THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO DO ALL SORT OF UNETHICAL THINGS STILL THEY ARE POPULAR, LIKE POLITICIANS, FILMSTARS, MEDIA PERSONALITIES, AND THE COMMON MAN……., WHEN LORD RAMA LEFT HIS WIFE…., SO GANDHI G AND WE ARE JUST HUMAN BEINGS, WHO GIVE THE NAME EXPERIENCE TO OUR MISTAKES….., BOOK SHOULD NOT BE BAN, IF YOU WANT TO BAN, BAN ADULT OR PORN SITES, TOBACCO CONSUMING AND ALL THOSE POLITICAL PARTIES WHICH ARE FORMED ON THE BASIS OF RELIGION…….

Aj (US)2 hrs ago (02:12 PM)

It’s India vs Pak match so there is no one to comment here. Otherwise some congr-assi would have criticized Modi for this too. Tell the author to write about sexual life of Mother Mary, some one from Vatican, that will give him more fame and fortune than Gandhi.

Eastern (East)2 hrs ago (02:08 PM)

Banned !!?? Afraid of some revelation? :P

N.A.Ananthanarayan (Chennai)2 hrs ago (01:57 PM)

In fact the entry ban against the author Joseph Lelyveld should be enforced in India.

INDIA NEWSMARCH 30, 2011, 10:01 A.M. ET

Indian State Bans Book Hinting Gandhi Had Gay Lover

Associated Press

MUMBAI—A state in western India banned Pulitzer-Prize winning author Joseph Lelyveld’s new book about Mahatma Gandhi on Wednesday after reviews saying it hints that the father of India’s independence had a homosexual relationship.

More bans have been proposed in India, where homosexuality was illegal until 2009 and still carries social stigma.More Coverage

IRT: ‘Gandhi is No Gay Icon’IRT: New Book Raises Question: Was Gandhi Gay?Review: Among the Hagiographers

The furor was sparked by local media reports, based on early reviews out of the U.S. and U.K., some of which emphasized passages in the book suggesting Gandhi had an intimate relationship with a German man named Hermann Kallenbach.

The book has not yet been released in India, so few here have actually read Mr. Lelyveld’s writings.

Mr. Lelyveld has said his work was taken out of context. “I do not allege that Gandhi is a racist or bisexual in ‘Great Soul,”” Mr. Lelyveld told the Times of India. “The word ‘bisexual’ nowhere appears in the book.”[gandhi0330] Associated Press

Mahatma Gandhi is widely regarded as the father of the Indian nation. Above, Congress party President Sonia Gandhi stands in front of a picture of Gandhi during the party’s plenary session in New Delhi, Dec. 19, 2010.

Writing in The Wall Street Journal, Andrew Roberts said that the only portrait on the mantelpiece opposite Gandhi’s bed was of Kallenbach.

“How completely you have taken possession of my body,” reads one widely quoted letter from Gandhi to Kallenbach. “This is slavery with a vengeance.”

Britain’s Daily Mail ran an article under the blaring headline: “Gandhi ‘left his wife to live with a male lover’ new book claims.”

The Mumbai Mirror on Tuesday ran a front page story under the headline “Book claims German man was Gandhi’s secret love,” which quoted the same passages as Roberts.

Sudhir Kakar, a psychoanalyst who has written about Gandhi’s sexuality and reviewed some of his correspondence with Kallenbach, said he does not believe the two men were lovers.

“It is quite a wrong interpretation,” he said.

Gandhi’s great goals were nonviolence, celibacy and truth, he said.

“The Hindu idea is that sexuality has this elemental energy which gets dissipated,” Mr. Kakar said. “If it can be sublimated and contained it can give you spiritual power. Gandhi felt his political power really came from his celibacy, from his spiritual power.”

He said Gandhi often filled his letters, including those to female associates, with strong love language, but that did not lead to physical intimacy.

“Nothing happened,” he said. “He is telling his feelings, but they are platonic. They are not put into action. That would have been terrible for him.”

Politicians in the state of Maharashtra, home to India’s financial capital Mumbai, have also called for a ban on the book and, along with Gujarat’s chief minister Narendra Modi, have asked the central government to bar publication nationwide.

Mr. Modi said Lelyveld should apologize publicly for “hurting the sentiments of millions of people.”

“It has become a fashion to tarnish the image of great Indian leaders for self publicity and sale of books,” said Sanjay Dutt, spokesman for the ruling Congress party in Maharashtra. “The government should invoke a law to severely punish anyone who tarnishes the image of the father of the nation.”

Ranjit Hoskote, a writer and general secretary of PEN India, which fights for free expression, condemned the ban and said local media had misconstrued both Lelyveld’s intentions and the nature of Gandhi’s relationship with Kallenbach.

“You can’t cite a worse example of third hand reportage and comment,” he said. “How can you ban a book you haven’t read?”

He said Gandhi’s correspondence with Kallenbach has been available in library archives for decades. “There’s no secret. There is no scandal,” he said.

March 30, 2011, 1:42 PM IST

‘Gandhi is No Gay Icon’

Comments (3)

By Margherita Stancati

In reports on Joseph Lelyveld’s “Great Soul: Mahatma Gandhi and His Struggle With India,” one issue has eclipsed all others, including allegations of racism: the possibility that Gandhi may have been gay

Agence France-Presse/Getty ImagesGay-rights activists say they are unlikely to claim Gandhi as part of their campaign.

Judging by the reactions the reviews sparked, Mr. Lelyveld’s book seems to have opened a new rift between many of his critics and supporters–the former arguing he probably was gay (and generally a weirdo), and the latter treating the suggestion as little short of blasphemy. What most seem to agree on is that being gay is definitely a bad thing.

The indignation over the Mahatma’s supposed sexual orientation came as no big surprise to Monish Malhotra, a gay rights activist and co-organizer of Delhi’s gay pride parade.

Although homosexuality was decriminalized in 2009, and is slowly becoming more socially accepted Mr. Malhotra is well aware that it remains a highly sensitive issue in India. He said outrage over Gandhi’s alleged bisexuality speaks also of the country’s still widespread homophobia.

Personally, Mr. Malhotra said he does not care whether Gandhi was or was not gay. “That’s beside the point,” said Mr. Malhotra in a recent interview. “Even if he was gay, what difference does it make? Does he not remain the father of the nation?” He hopes these fresh allegations will help people focus on individual merit, rather than sexual orientation.

Mr. Malhotra also said we are unlikely to see placards of Gandhi being brandished alongside rainbow flags at the next gay pride parade. For a start, from what he has gathered from commentaries and reviews of Mr. Lelyveld’s book so far, he doesn’t believe there is enough proof to suggest Gandhi was gay or bisexual. And even if he was, Mr. Malhotra pointed out Gandhi is not known to have spoken about it openly, which would rule him out as a poster child for gay rights. Overall, Mr. Malhotra thought it would be unwise to hijack a larger-than-life figure like Gandhi, since this would likely spark a backlash against the broader cause.

“You wouldn’t want to risk something as big as Gandhi’s image as part of your campaign,” said Mr. Malhotra. “No sensible person would do that.”

India Real Time HOME PAGE »

There are 5 Comment(s)

3:34 pm March 30, 2011Jeffrey Archer wrote:

Bit moot really given the author of the book has categorically denied alleging the Mahatma was gay, and that all the debate has in fact been sparked by a review in the Daily Mail I believe which incorrectly reported that the author of the book suggested the Mahatma had both homosexual and racist tendencies. Allegations flatly denied by the author, so much ado about nothing. Perhaps the WSJ could do better than flogging a dead horse with yet more unnecessary sensationalism. I would have thought that better left to the tabloids don’t you think?

4:34 pm March 30, 2011Naresh Kadyan wrote:

Gandhian Ideologist, philosopher and social reformer Naresh Kadyan moved complaint with the HE the President of India bearing Grievance Registration Number is : PRSEC/E/2011/04750 dated 30-3-2011 about controversial book on Mahatma Gandhi, like wise matter taken up with the Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances, Government of India vide registration number MOOIA/E/2011/00025 on dated 30-3-2011.

4:36 pm March 30, 2011agree with Jeffrey Archer wrote:

period. kill this story.

8:01 pm March 30, 2011Wow wrote:

“What most seem to agree on is that being gay is definitely a bad thing.”

What a disturbingly stupid conclusion. And a terrible article, to boot.

8:06 pm March 30, 2011Sid Harth wrote:

I smell a rat. Book writers and their publishers, agents have used this technique to make the book more desirable. One Marathi writer, poet and freedom fighter, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was involved in homosexual activities while he was in house arrest in Ratnagiri, then Bombay state by British government. Homosexuality in India is considered by people as unacceptable moral flaw. It does not mean that homosexuality does not exist. Recently, the supreme court of India has allowed homosexuality by law. The British collecto rbooked Savarkar for his crime but saince he was already in prison no further action was taken. The news of this incidence was suppressed by leading Marathi press. Nobody, including the author Lelyveld claims that Gandhi was homosexual or bisexual. The ruckus in India over the book, its banning in Gujarat is uncalled for.

http://cogitoergosum.co.cc/indias-superpower-euphoria-ccxciv/

…and I am Sid Harth

March 29, 2011, 2:46 PM IST

New Book Raises Question: Was Gandhi Gay?

Comments (24)

By Tripti Lahiri

Courtesy Knopf

More than six decades after his death, Mahatma Gandhi remains a polarizing figure—either revered or despised. So the arrival of a new book on him is a chance for those with well-formed unflattering opinions of Gandhi to trot out all his trespasses, as those on the other end of the spectrum leap to his defense.

Which is exactly what they did in reactions to a new book by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Joseph Lelyveld “Great Soul: Mahatma Gandhi and His Struggle With India,” officially out in the U.S. on Tuesday.

Of course, it’s not often a book on Gandhi—even the many revisionist books, plays and films that have come out in recent years and that have highlighted his unkindness to his wife, his remoteness as a father and his odd ways of testing his sexual self-control—has suggested that he might have been gay, or at least had one gay relationship.

The book, published in the U.S. by Knopf, part of Random House Inc., is not yet available in India. A local bookstore said the book was to be released by Random House in India, though a date hadn’t yet been set. But a spokeswoman for Random House India said the company didn’t have the India rights and could provide no further information. For now, readers in India will have to be content with what they can glean from the overseas reviews of the book.

Most have quoted these words written by Gandhi to one Hermann Kallenbach from Mr. Lelyveld’s book: “How completely you have taken possession of my body. This is slavery with a vengeance.”

A rather inflammatory review in this newspaper included mention of the passages and quotes relating to Kallenbach as part of a larger polemic on Gandhi that concluded with the suggestion that the man credited with being the architect of India’s freedom struggle didn’t really achieve all that much since the British were sick of India and departing anyway.

“As Mr. Lelyveld makes abundantly clear, Gandhi’s organ probably only rarely became aroused with his naked young ladies, because the love of his life was a German-Jewish architect and bodybuilder, Hermann Kallenbach, for whom Gandhi left his wife in 1908,” wrote Andrew Roberts, in a review of the book that categorizes a long list of Gandhi’s failings, managing even to work in a mention of the fact that he (Gandhi, not Mr. Roberts, we hasten to add) once suffered from hemorrhoids.

At one point Mr. Roberts notes: “Gandhi denounced lawyers, railways and parliamentary politics, even though he was a professional lawyer who constantly used railways to get to meetings to argue that India deserved its own parliament.” Oh, the hypocrisy.

In India, meanwhile, Gandhi relatives and historians have said they are upset by the interpretation of Gandhi’s letters to Kallenbach, although it’s not clear whether they’re upset by the suggestion of homosexuality or by the suggestion that he was cheating on his loyal wife. There has been less reaction to quotes in the book in which Gandhi expresses racist attitudes to black South Africans.

The Mail Today quoted Tushar Gandhi, a great-grandson, as saying Western writers have a “morbid fascination” with Gandhi’s sexuality—although this is no doubt because of Gandhi’s own repressive attitude towards sex and his adoption of celibacy even though he was married.

“It also helps that no matter what you write about him, there are no repercussions. Let them write such things about a Muslim or a Dalit leader,” said Mr. Gandhi. “It is always open season with Gandhi.”

In another piece in the same paper, writer Sourish Bhattacharyya quoted from a letter in which a jailed Gandhi expressed distress over his inability to come and help his ill wife to conclude that “these are not the words of a man who had deserted his wife to be with his ‘male lover.’” (It is not clear to this writer why feeling concern for his wife’s health would be conclusive proof against a relationship with Kallenbach.)

The Mail Today is a collaboration between weekly magazine India Today and the Daily Mail tabloid of the U.K.

Knopf, the book’s publisher, describes the work as a look at how Gandhi’s philosophy was shaped by his time in South Africa and the extent to which his ideas were “tested by an India that quickly learned to revere him as a Mahatma, or ‘Great Soul,’ while following him only a small part of the way to the social transformation he envisioned.”

The possible relationship with Kallenbach didn’t feature equally in all reviews of the book. A New York Times review largely stayed with Mr. Lelyveld’s focus on the shaping of Gandhi as a political activist and social reformer.

“The two decades Gandhi spent in South Africa are too often seen merely as prelude. Lelyveld treats them with the seriousness they deserve,” wrote Geoffrey C. Ward in that review, noting that it helped that Mr. Lelyveld served as New York Times correspondent in both countries.

Meanwhile, Mr. Lelyveld told the Indian daily The Times of India that he never actually used the word “bisexual” in the book and says he only used the word “racist” once, preferring to let the quotes speak for themselves.

Revisionist works on Mahatma Gandhi—the man, not the icon—have become pretty commonplace in recent years and many Indian readers won’t be particularly astonished to read that Gandhi, when it came to race rights, was far more concerned about Indians than he was about Africans.

We hope that the hullabaloo over the sexuality angle, however, doesn’t get the book banned here. We’d rather like the chance to read it ourselves.

UPDATE, 7:25 p.m. IST: A spokeswoman for Harper Collins India confirmed that they hold the India rights and said that the book should come out here towards the end of April.

What do you think of recent books on Gandhi? Are they too admiring or too critical? Let us know in the Comments section.

Western writers glorify Churchill and deride Gandhi, Subhash and Nehru. It will not surprize anyone that Nehru was refered to as a cross-dresser by one of his western critics because he used to dress as a girl in school plays in early childhood. The writer probably did not know that in India this is a common practise. This also points out to the dangers of seeing things as you would imagine them to be, especially when you are seeing them from a different cultural context. It is well known to everybody that Gandhi was a normal heterosexual male with 5 children. However he developed guilt feelings about sex, because he was indulging in it while his father lay dying. Kasturba, his wife recalled years later in India that he still had a normal sex drive. Kallenbach had bestowed a 1000 acre Tolstoy Farm to Gandhi and he remained a close friend. There is nothing unusual in Gandhi’s letters as this was common language in India in those days. Rajmohan Gandhi another biographer of his grandfather has mentioned that he was also fascinated with another lady colleague although this would be platonic. All in all, despite the derisive critics who are always looking to spice things up, there is nothing to suggest that Gandhi was a homosexual. As far as politics is concerned, even Subhash Bose a trenchant critic of Gandhi refered to him as the “Father of the Nation” and acknowledged the mass awakening movement which Gandhi had initiated perhaps for the first time in human history. The impact of Gandhi can be seen in Egypt today and in all the third world countries; something which the western media would love to ignore if they could. As far as self sufficient villages are concerned, Gandhi was in touch with the Indian reality and more so than other arm chair philosophers. Even today, most governments of the world including western governments try to provide as many benefits as possible to local populations in rural areas to make them self sufficient and hence provide migration. The western world view needs to re-orient itself.

[...] in the …Gandhi ‘left his wife to live with a male lover’ new book claimsDaily MailNew Book Raises Question: Was Gandhi Gay?Wall Street Journal (blog)Mahatma Gandhi ‘racist and bisexual’ claims new [...]

4:01 pm March 29, 2011sowhat wrote:

What would be the reason to indulge in such an issue, to prove that someone thought to be perfect isn’t? Would questions of his sexuality really change the person he was and the things he accomplished?

4:16 pm March 29, 2011Varun Bengal wrote:

I wonder Lelyveld shows the same courage to right on American Leaders/politicians. What is the point in writing on soft target. What way to make money. Disgusting.

4:48 pm March 29, 2011Nilay wrote:

The market is saturated with books on Gandhi and his achievements. Writing a controversial book is bound to generate sales, especially within India. Good strategic move by Mr. Lelyveld.

5:01 pm March 29, 2011ROHIT wrote:

GREAT TRICK USED TO MAKE MONEY . CHEAP THING

6:28 pm March 29, 2011wsjreader wrote:

Some people say its a cheap gimmick to make money but the fact is a significant percentage of its contribution is only because of media like the paid news.

I dunno about Gandhi but Churchill once licked his lips, looked very desperate and remarked that Gandhi looked like a naked fakir. I’m not sure how he pronounced that last word, but people have pointed to Churchill’s repressed homosexuality as the source of this lewd comment.

10:01 pm March 29, 2011Ro wrote:

Not a surprise to observers of Congress. They will sleep with anyone and everyone if it meets some political goal.

10:08 pm March 29, 2011Speedracer wrote:

Mr. Lelyveld who? Some poor writer in desperate need of cash. He’s so poor that he wants to make money by humiliating a poor country’s dead person. Mr. Lely.. what ever why don’t you go meet Mr Gandhi and ask him, wait, you can’t because he’s in heaven and you are going to hell.

10:49 pm March 29, 2011Kumarpushp wrote:

How long you hindus will hide the facts from world .Gandhi was the born racist and sleeping with nacked women who were the same age like their daughter.He was the paedophile and Indian people should remove his photos from Indian rupees.Congress is following same culture of corrupt Gandi.

10:54 pm March 29, 2011Speedracer wrote:

Kumar pu why use Hindu name when you are not and BTW Gandhi was a national leader that included all religion. Not sure why you are so insecure that you have to drag religion into everything to make a comment or just stand up and speak something. Gandhi was very open with what he did and wrote about it himself in his book, I doubt you know anything about it but just like to hide behind some religion and make wild accusation to feel good.

11:15 pm March 29, 2011Jay wrote:

Gandhi lived in an era where racism was the order of the day and please read Churchill to know how racist he was. Remember that it was not till 1968 that the black man was liberated in America. How’s that for being late and delaying freedom for American blacks? Gandhi evolved as a politician and he outgrew the segregationist attitude of the times. Indian freedom was nobody’s dream till the 1919 Jallianwallah Bagh Massacre where unarmed protested were mowed down by the British General Dyer. This was the major turning point of the Indian freedom movement and Gandhi had been an activist for a quarter century by then. The author forgot to mention that it was Gandhi who drafted Ambedkar to author India’s constitution and it was Gandhi who led the anti-untouchability movement much before Ambedkar and infact he was staying at the untouchable neighborhood in Delhi the night before he was asassinated. Jinnah was a patriot who turned into a Bigot thanks to the British influence on him and his role is under question in Pakistan itself. Gandhi himself has written extensively on his sex life and even his wife has commented on it. Its an open book. Only somebody really out of his mind will call Kallenbach a homosexual and anybody seeking to construe Gandhi’s words to mean a physical relationship with Kallenbach probably does not understand the times and mores of the 1920′s and reads too much porn.

3:44 am March 30, 2011Rupert wrote:

This isn’t the first time, Andrew Roberts, the White Supremacist, has gone after Gandhi. Given half a chance Roberts would rather see Britain rule over India all over again.

Needless to say he’s an unabashed admirer of Winston Churchill, and we all know what Churchill thought of Gandhi, to an extent he even wondered why Gandhi was still alive when on fast in a prison during one of his several imprisonments.

Perhaps it might also be instructive to read Johann Hari’s portrayal of Andrew Roberts in The Independent.

Roberts, who has a new book out this week, describes himself as “extremely right-wing”. To understand him, you need to look at a small, sinister group of British-based South African and Zimbabwean exiles he has associated with. In 2001, Roberts spoke to a dinner of the Springbok Club, a group that regards itself as the shadow white government of South Africa. Its founder, a former member of the neo-fascist National Front, says: “In a nutshell our policy can be summed up in one sentence: we want our countries back, and believe this can now only come about by the re-establishment of civilised European rule throughout the African continent.”

The club, according to its website, flies the flag of apartheid South Africa at every meeting. The British High Commission has accused the club of spreading “hate literature”.

Mahatma Gandhi was a human being. He wasn’t God and such he was fallible. Yet, looking at the sum total of his life, his strengths far outweigh his weaknesses. LIke many idealists, he was trying to lead a perfectionist’s life when it came to dealing with others than his own family.

Who cares if he was Gay or cheating on his wife when he was young? He’ll still be Mahatma for millions of Indians and for many thoughtful people of the world. Winston Churchill, who called Gandhi “half naked fakir,” is the real racist.

5:28 am March 30, 2011Rambo wrote:

Hi Kumarpushp, what is a “nacked”? You must be a speaker of the Queen’s English like that old ‘fackir’ Churchill

5:47 am March 30, 2011RF wrote:

Refer to the writer Tripti Lahiri’s comment >>>>> (It is not clear to this writer why feeling concern for his wife’s health would be conclusive proof against a relationship with Kallenbach.)

So the mention of a photo Gandhi retained of his association with Hermann Kallenbach and the use of words “body” and “soul” is concusive proof that he was gay?

I expected better than this from a WSJ writer.

Refer another instance of the writer above commenting on >>>>>> At one point Mr. Roberts notes: “Gandhi denounced lawyers, railways and parliamentary politics, even though he was a professional lawyer who constantly used railways to get to meetings to argue that India deserved its own parliament.” Oh, the hypocrisy.

What hypocrisy, Tripti Lahiri? Or do think it is not necessary to provide us the context in which Gandhi may have critisized Lawyers, Railways, Parliamentary Politics? He might have critisized British lawyers, or maybe he critised a lawyer’s stand on an issue. He might have critisized the British parliamentary system.

Could you care to tell of the context of his critisim before saying ” Oh, the hypocrisy”.

And Oh, “The british were sick of India and departing anyway” is it? How condescending to the millions who fought for independence.

I mean it’s not possible that years of struggle led by Gandhi made the British sick of India? No? Not possible?

Because Gandhi was far more concerned about Indians than Africans makes Gandhi a racist??? Laughable.

So if Obama does not send in fighter jets to help Syrians, Saudis, Baharanis like h did in defence of Libayans makes him a racist??

6:05 am March 30, 2011Vittal Srimushnam wrote:

Some twenty three years back, there was a Movie about Jesus Christ (The Last temptation of Christ) that roiled quite a few Americans (where I live) and many called on the Church establishment to urge its ban. I remeber the Arch Bishpop’s comment (Which I paraphrase):

Everybody has a right to interpret the life of a great man. There have been many such appraisas. If the current appraisal is valid, it will last. If not, it will be consigned to dust bin and nobody will even rember it in future. Why ask for a ban?

Gandhi was one such great man. And this is one such appraisal.

7:00 am March 30, 2011Selva wrote:

Since Andrew Roberts the British colonialist anti-Gandhi crusader has become a much sought after source on Gandhi, take some time to read about “the Dark Side of Andrew Roberts” by Johann Hari in a British newspaper..

There is no doubt that Gandhi has been regarded as a great man by Indians and most of people in the world. Great men do not have to be perfect, since all humans are imperfect.

For most Indians, what made Gandhi great was his efforts to throw off the British shackle. Indian independence results more from British decline than from Indian movement. But it is natural for Indians to inflate the role of Gandhi and his movement, since it is embarrassing for such a big country to be ruled by a small of British. Years ago, Porto Ricans took pride in an imagined resistance movement against America during the Spanish-American War, because they were ashamed that they did little when America replaced Spain. So Indians and Porto Ricans share same mentality.

What makes Gandhi a great man in the world is his non-violent approach. Although Gandhi was inspired by others, such as Tolstoy and even Thoreau, he inspired a nation to adopt this approach. If nobody idolized Gandhi, the negative description of Gandhi’s private behavior would fall on deaf ears.

8:53 am March 30, 2011Sri Prabhat wrote:

what Mahatma Gandhi was; or was not before He started his journey to discover the ‘TRUTH’ is less important!How he surpassed all short comings in his personal as well as public life & led the humanity i to the philosophy and practice of ‘Nonviolence’ is to be ponder upon ;which he has described in his Autobiography.THIS ONLY MATTERS !

10:27 am March 30, 2011to RF wrote:

RF, i couldnt say it better!i quote from the text: although this is no doubt because of Gandhi’s own repressive attitude towards sex and his adoption of celibacy even though he was married.

With this sentence i had to smile, because it shows exactly the way of thinking of the writer. Why it would be repressive not to have sex? And why you quote he was celibate even though he was married,, this two together sounds as if it is something very weird, so that could not be true so he must be gay then. It shows how in Western society sex is almost a religion.

12:12 pm March 30, 2011Wisethoughts wrote:

I agree Vittal Srimushnam very stongly; these allegations need not be banned since they are not here to stay. I agree to these fellowmen & appreciate their noble thought shared here. NON VIOLENCE can bring big change in History was believed by Gandhiji & the whole nation also started believing. Is it a less of a accomplishment.

BOOKSHELFMARCH 26, 2011

Among the HagiographersEarly on Gandhi was dubbed a ‘mortal demi-god’—and he has been regarded that way ever since

Comments (249)

By ANDREW ROBERTS

Joseph Lelyveld has written a ­generally admiring book about ­Mohandas Gandhi, the man credited with leading India to independence from Britain in 1947. Yet “Great Soul” also obligingly gives readers more than enough information to discern that he was a sexual weirdo, a political incompetent and a fanatical faddist—one who was often downright cruel to those around him. Gandhi was therefore the archetypal 20th-century progressive ­intellectual, professing his love for ­mankind as a concept while actually ­despising people as individuals.

GANDHI

Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesGANDHI

For all his lifelong campaign for Swaraj (“self-rule”), India could have achieved it many years earlier if ­Gandhi had not continually abandoned his civil-disobedience campaigns just as they were beginning to be successful. With 300 million Indians ruled over by 0.1% of that number of Britons, the subcontinent could have ended the Raj with barely a shrug if it had been politically united. Yet Gandhi’s uncanny ability to irritate and frustrate the leader of India’s 90 million Muslims, Muhammad Ali Jinnah (whom he called “a maniac”), wrecked any hope of early independence. He equally alienated B.R. Ambedkar, who spoke for the country’s 55 million Untouchables (the lowest caste of Hindus, whose very touch was thought to defile the four higher classes). Ambedkar pronounced Gandhi “devious and untrustworthy.” Between 1900 and 1922, Gandhi ­suspended his efforts no fewer than three times, leaving in the lurch more than 15,000 supporters who had gone to jail for the cause.

Sixty-two years to the day since Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination ashes kept by a friend of the family for decades were finally sprinkled onto the waters of the Indian Ocean. Video courtesy of Reuters.videoObama to Visit Gandhi’s Mumbai Home2:06

President Barack Obama is set to do some soul searching in India this week with a visit to Mahatma Gandhi’s Mumbai home, now a memorial museum called the Mani Bhavan Gandhi Sangrahalaya. WSJ’s Eric Bellman offers this tour.

A ceaseless self-promoter, Gandhi bought up the entire first edition of his first, hagiographical biography to send to people and ensure a reprint. Yet we cannot be certain that he really made all the pronouncements attributed to him, since, according to Mr. Lelyveld, Gandhi insisted that journalists file “not the words that had actually come from his mouth but a version he ­authorized after his sometimes heavy editing of the transcripts.”

We do know for certain that he ­advised the Czechs and Jews to adopt nonviolence toward the Nazis, saying that “a single Jew standing up and ­refusing to bow to Hitler’s decrees” might be enough “to melt Hitler’s heart.” (Nonviolence, in Gandhi’s view, would apparently have also worked for the Chinese against the Japanese ­invaders.) Starting a letter to Adolf ­Hitler with the words “My friend,” Gandhi egotistically asked: “Will you listen to the appeal of one who has ­deliberately shunned the method of war not without considerable success?” He advised the Jews of Palestine to “rely on the goodwill of the Arabs” and wait for a Jewish state “till Arab ­opinion is ripe for it.”

In August 1942, with the Japanese at the gates of India, having captured most of Burma, Gandhi initiated a ­campaign designed to hinder the war effort and force the British to “Quit ­India.” Had the genocidal Tokyo regime captured northeastern India, as it ­almost certainly would have succeeded in doing without British troops to halt it, the results for the Indian population would have been catastrophic. No fewer than 17% of Filipinos perished under Japanese occupation, and there is no reason to suppose that Indians would have fared any better. Fortunately, the British viceroy, Lord Wavell, simply imprisoned Gandhi and 60,000 of his followers and got on with the business of fighting the Japanese.

Gandhi claimed that there was “an exact parallel” between the British ­Empire and the Third Reich, yet while the British imprisoned him in luxury in the Aga Khan’s palace for 21 months ­until the Japanese tide had receded in 1944, Hitler stated that he would simply have had Gandhi and his supporters shot. (Gandhi and Mussolini got on well when they met in December 1931, with the Great Soul praising the Duce’s “service to the poor, his opposition to super-urbanization, his efforts to bring about a coordination between Capital and ­Labour, his passionate love for his people.”) During his 21 years in South Africa (1893-1914), Gandhi had not opposed the Boer War or the Zulu War of 1906—he raised a battalion of stretcher-bearers in both cases—and after his return to India during World War I he offered to be Britain’s “recruiting agent-in-chief.” Yet he was comfortable opposing the war against fascism.

Although Gandhi’s nonviolence made him an icon to the American civil-rights movement, Mr. Lelyveld shows how ­implacably racist he was toward the blacks of South Africa. “We were then marched off to a prison intended for Kaffirs,” Gandhi complained during one of his campaigns for the rights of ­Indians settled there. “We could understand not being classed with whites, but to be placed on the same level as the ­Natives seemed too much to put up with. Kaffirs are as a rule uncivilized—the convicts even more so. They are troublesome, very dirty and live like animals.”

GANDHITime Life Pictures/Getty Images

Gandhi outside of his house on the Sevagram ashram, which he founded in Maharashtra in 1936.

In an open letter to the legislature of South Africa’s Natal province, ­Gandhi wrote of how “the Indian is ­being dragged down to the position of the raw Kaffir,” someone, he later stated, “whose occupation is hunting and whose sole ambition is to collect a number of cattle to buy a wife, and then pass his life in indolence and ­nakedness.” Of white Afrikaaners and Indians, he wrote: “We believe as much in the purity of races as we think they do.” That was possibly why he refused to allow his son Manilal to marry ­Fatima Gool, a Muslim, despite publicly promoting Muslim-Hindu unity.

Gandhi’s pejorative reference to ­nakedness is ironic considering that, as Mr. Lelyveld details, when he was in his 70s and close to leading India to ­independence, he encouraged his ­17-year-old great-niece, Manu, to be naked during her “nightly cuddles” with him. After sacking several long-standing and loyal members of his 100-strong ­personal entourage who might disapprove of this part of his spiritual quest, Gandhi began sleeping naked with Manu and other young women. He told a woman on one occasion: “Despite my best efforts, the organ remained aroused. It was an altogether strange and shameful experience.”

Yet he could also be vicious to Manu, whom he on one occasion forced to walk through a thick jungle where sexual assaults had occurred in order for her to retrieve a pumice stone that he liked to use on his feet. When she returned in tears, Gandhi “cackled” with laughter at her and said: “If some ruffian had carried you off and you had met your death courageously, my heart would have danced with joy.”

Yet as Mr. Lelyveld makes abundantly clear, Gandhi’s organ probably only rarely became aroused with his naked young ladies, because the love of his life was a German-Jewish architect and bodybuilder, Hermann Kallenbach, for whom Gandhi left his wife in 1908. “Your portrait (the only one) stands on my mantelpiece in my bedroom,” he wrote to Kallenbach. “The mantelpiece is opposite to the bed.” For some ­reason, cotton wool and Vaseline were “a constant reminder” of Kallenbach, which Mr. Lelyveld believes might ­relate to the enemas Gandhi gave ­himself, although there could be other, less generous, explanations.

Gandhi wrote to Kallenbach about “how completely you have taken ­possession of my body. This is slavery with a vengeance.” Gandhi nicknamed himself “Upper House” and Kallenbach “Lower House,” and he made Lower House promise not to “look lustfully upon any woman.” The two then pledged “more love, and yet more love . . . such love as they hope the world has not yet seen.”

They were parted when Gandhi ­returned to India in 1914, since the German national could not get permission to travel to India during ­wartime—though Gandhi never gave up the dream of having him back, writing him in 1933 that “you are always ­before my mind’s eye.” Later, on his ashram, where even married “inmates” had to swear celibacy, Gandhi said: “I cannot imagine a thing as ugly as the intercourse of men and women.” You could even be thrown off the ashram for “excessive tickling.” (Salt was also forbidden, because it “arouses the senses.”)

In his tract “Hind Swaraj” (“India’s Freedom”), Gandhi denounced lawyers, railways and parliamentary politics, even though he was a professional lawyer who constantly used railways to get to meetings to argue that India ­deserved its own parliament. After ­taking a vow against milk for its ­supposed aphrodisiac properties, he ­contracted hemorrhoids, so he said that it was only cow’s milk that he had ­forsworn, not goat’s. His absolute ­opposition to any birth control except sexual abstinence, in a country that ­today has more people living on less than $1.25 a day than there were Indians in his lifetime, was more dangerous.

Telling the Muslims who had been responsible for the massacres of thousands of Hindus in East Bengal in 1946 that Islam “was a religion of peace,” Gandhi nonetheless said to three of his workers who preceded him into its ­villages: “There will be no tears but only joy if tomorrow I get the news that all three of you were killed.” To a Hindu who asked how his co-religionists could ever return to villages from which they had been ethnically cleansed, Gandhi blithely replied: “I do not mind if each and every one of the 500 families in your area is done to death.” What mattered for him was the principle of nonviolence, and anyhow, as he told an orthodox Brahmin, he believed in re­incarnation.

Gandhi’s support for the Muslim ­caliphate in the 1920s—for which he said he was “ready today to sacrifice my sons, my wife and my friends”—Mr. Lelyveld shows to have been merely a cynical maneuver to keep the Muslim League in his coalition for as long as possible. When his campaign for unity failed, he blamed a higher power, ­saying in 1927: “I toiled for it here, I did penance for it, but God was not ­satisfied. God did not want me to take any credit for the work.”

Gandhi was willing to stand up for the Untouchables, just not at the ­crucial moment when they were ­demanding the right to pray in temples in 1924-25. He was worried about alienating high-caste Hindus. “Would you teach the Gospel to a cow?” he asked a visiting missionary in 1936. “Well, some of the Untouchables are worse than cows in their understanding.”Great Soul: Mahatma Gandhi And His Struggle With India

By Joseph LelyveldKnopf, 425 pages, $28.95

Gandhi’s first Great Fast—undertaken despite his belief that hunger strikes were “the worst form of coercion, which militates against the fundamental principles of non-violence”—was launched in 1932 to prevent Untouchables from ­having their own reserved seats in any future Indian parliament. Because he said that it was “a religious, not a political question,” he accepted no debate on the matter. He elsewhere stated that “the abolition of Untouchability would not entail caste Hindus having to dine with former Untouchables.” At his ­monster rallies against Untouchability in the 1930s, which tens of thousands of people attended, the Untouchables themselves were kept in holding pens well away from the caste Hindus.

Of course, any coalition movement ­involves a certain degree of compromise and occasional hypocrisy. But Gandhi’s saintly image, his martyrdom at the hands of a Hindu fanatic in 1948 and Martin Luther King Jr.’s adoption of him as a role model for the American civil-rights movement have largely protected him from critical scrutiny. The French man of letters Romain Rolland called Gandhi “a mortal demi-god” in a 1924 hagiography, catching the tone of most writing about him. People used to take away the sand that had touched his feet as relics—one relation kept Gandhi’s ­fingernail clippings—and modern biographers seem to treat him with much the same reverence today. Mr. Lelyveld is not immune, making labored excuses for him at every turn of this nonetheless well-researched and well-written book.

Yet of the four great campaigns of Gandhi’s life—for Hindu-Muslim unity, against importing British textiles, for ending Untouchability and for getting the British off the subcontinent—only the last succeeded, and that simply ­because the near-bankrupt British led by the anti-imperialist Clement Attlee desperately wanted to leave India anyhow after a debilitating world war.

It was not much of a record for someone who had been invested with “sole ­executive authority” over the Indian ­National Congress as early as in December 1921. But then, unlike any other ­politician, Gandhi cannot be judged by ­actual results, because he was the “Great Soul.”—Mr. Roberts’s “Storm of War: A New History of the Second World War” will be published in May.

Discuss:There are 250 commentsAdd your comment

Comments Feed

Sort by:OldestNewest

«

12345

»Recommend a comment by clicking

2 hours agoSRINIVAS SUNDER wrote:

Imperialism has long had its defenders, who have itched for the moment that they could take down their enemies and prove to the world that the White Man had indeed acted out of noble impulses to civilize his fellow Brown/Black human. Gandhi is the one icon that this breed would love to take down in the worst-possible way – after all, the exit of the British from India was the first chapter in the end of Imperialism. Once the Jewel in the Crown was gone, the fate of the rest of the Empire (and for Imperialism as a creed) was pretty much written as well. The WSJ editorial pages, the AEI, the Heritage Foundation, and any number of right-wing “think”tanks are home to any number of these people, and periodically, they step out to fling a little mud in defense of their creed. As another commenter pointed out, Andrew Roberts, an ardent admirer of Churchill (and thus, by definition, a Gandhi-hater) is one of this ilk, and, as such, this review is no surprise.

The “problem” with balanced biographies such as Lelyveld’s (who is probably horrified that his book has been so twisted out of shape by this review) is that it strives to make reference to both the good and the bad. This a particular flaw among Progressives; right-wingers rarely bend themselves out of shape to be balanced: How could they? After all, they are by definition, always Right (NOT!)).

I do believe it is fair to point out, as Lelyveld does, that Gandhi was a fanatic on the subject of non-violence. It was this fierce commitment that caused him to call off any number of efforts that left his supporters in the lurch – in each case, it was when violence broke out that he called off those movements. A balanced portrayal could have suggested that this was because Gandhi did not want to give the British an excuse to use violence to suppress a movement that had turned violent (and thus lost credibility). But Roberts instead professes a sympathy for Gandhi’s supporters that is inherently suspect, given his own demi-God Churchill’s fierce opposition to all that Gandhi stood for. His point that India could have won freedom a lot earlier than 1947 if only Gandhi had allowed those earlier movements to persist is also at odds with his later comment that the only reason India did get its independence in 1947 was because England was weakened after WW2 (which it surely was). If this were true, though, there would have been no reason for England to quit India before then, since England was surely in much better shape in the 1920s and 1930s.

It is also tendentious in pointing out that Gandhi had very British views about the separation of the races in S. Africa. Indeed, Gandhi, in his early days, was very much a WOG, and strove to be a Brit in all ways, a “credit to his race.” His views on race had to undergo an evolution before he turned into a fierce fighter against racism. It seems silly to say that he WAS one thing before he turned into something better. What’s your point? That he should have stayed a racist all his life?

And yes, a lot of what Gandhi strove for in India – unity among Hindus and Muslims, upliftment of the lowest, a village-driven agrarian economy – have all been only partially accomplished, or completely undone. So what? India has had four Muslim Presidents, one “untouchable” caste President, one woman President and Prime Minister, its largest state is ruled by a woman from the “untouchable” castes (whose closest adviser is a Brahmin from the “highest” caste), and so on. Set against that is much poverty and corruption, but to focus on that is to ignore what has been accomplished, a lot of which is directly attributable to Gandhi. And the greatest accomplishment – a unified India – has stood firm against all its enemies, foreign and domestic, rhetorical and real. And for his indispensable contribution to pulling that off, he is still the Mahatma, warts and all. Stick that in your eye.1 RecommendationLink

3 hours agoNaresh Kadyan wrote:

Gandhian Ideologist, philosopher and social reformer Naresh Kadyan moved complaint with the HE the President of India bearing Grievance Registration Number is : PRSEC/E/2011/04750 dated 30-3-2011 about controversial book on Mahatma Gandhi, like wise matter taken up with the Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances, Government of India vide registration number MOOIA/E/2011/00025 on dated 30-3-2011.“The government of India should take a serious note of the book that has made disgraceful statement on the national leader – father of the nation. It is demeaning for the nation,”Government should initiate steps to ban sale of a controversial book on Mahatma Gandhi by Pulitzer prize-winning journalist Joseph Lelyveld.“Gandhiji was a respected leader and is known as the father of nation. He led the freedom movement of India. The government should initiate steps to ensure that the book is not published in the India,”The minister also informed that the state government would write to the Centre for not publishing the controversial book.The founder Secretary General of the National Khadi and Village Industries Boards Employees Federation Naresh Kadyan said that the book ‘Great Soul: Mahatma Gandhi and His Struggle with India’ has maligned the character of the Father of Nation.“This is very serious that the author of the book has raised questions about the character of Gandhiji who initiated non-violence movement.“The references made by the American author are not acceptable and the Government of India should initiate steps to ensure that the book does not get published in India, the Central government to initiate steps to ban the book which maligns Mahatma Gandhi’s image,”Media Adviser of the International Organisation for Animal Protection – OIPA in India Abhishek Kadyan along with Sukanya Kadyan, Director of the People for Animals ( PFA ) Haryana also support National Khadi and Village Industries Boards Employees Federation stand.RecommendLink

1 hour agoMike O’Malley replied:

So the government should initiate steps to ban sale of a controversial book on Mahatma Gandhi by Pulitzer prize-winning journalist Joseph Lelyveld. “Gandhiji was a respected leader and is known as the father of nation. He led the freedom movement of India. The government should initiate steps to ensure that the book is not published in the India,”

While you are at it perhaps you can extend that ban to works critical of Thomas Jefferson and promote Dónal Ó Conaill, The Emancipator, as the true father of modern non-violent mass protest?

Somehow I expect that citizens of modern India can handle criticism of a founding fater.RecommendLink

3 hours agoNaresh Kadyan wrote:

Gandhian Ideologist, philosopher and social reformer Naresh Kadyan moved complaint with the HE the President of India bearing Grievance Registration Number is : PRSEC/E/2011/04750 dated 30-3-2011 about controversial book on Mahatma Gandhi, like wise matter taken up with the Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances, Government of India vide registration number MOOIA/E/2011/00025 on dated 30-3-2011.“The government of India should take a serious note of the book that has made disgraceful statement on the national leader – father of the nation. It is demeaning for the nation,”Government should initiate steps to ban sale of a controversial book on Mahatma Gandhi by Pulitzer prize-winning journalist Joseph Lelyveld.“Gandhiji was a respected leader and is known as the father of nation. He led the freedom movement of India. The government should initiate steps to ensure that the book is not published in the India,”The minister also informed that the state government would write to the Centre for not publishing the controversial book.The founder Secretary General of the National Khadi and Village Industries Boards Employees Federation Naresh Kadyan said that the book ‘Great Soul: Mahatma Gandhi and His Struggle with India’ has maligned the character of the Father of Nation.“This is very serious that the author of the book has raised questions about the character of Gandhiji who initiated non-violence movement.“The references made by the American author are not acceptable and the Government of India should initiate steps to ensure that the book does not get published in India, the Central government to initiate steps to ban the book which maligns Mahatma Gandhi’s image,”Media Adviser of the International Organisation for Animal Protection – OIPA in India Abhishek Kadyan along with Sukanya Kadyan, Director of the People for Animals ( PFA ) Haryana also support National Khadi and Village Industries Boards Employees Federation stand.RecommendLink

12 hours agoJignesh Shah wrote:

It is a shame that WSJ is getting into the habit of taking a few things out of context, blowing them out of proportion to inflame controversy that will sell books. WSJ did the same with the recent Tiger mom episode where an out-of-context excerpt generated more opinions than the actual book itself. The book, it turns out, was more nuanced, balanced and actually quite lame.

The same seems to be happening here. If you read other prominent reviews and the author’s own statements, you will realize that WSJ’s reviewer exclusively picked the most controversial, in some cases irrelevant claims and presented them either out of context or without due caveat. For example, the comments on Gandhi’s sexual experiements exclude the fact that they were tests of his personal vow of celibacy. You may still not condone his experiements, but at least you know the context was not as horrendous as presented. Did Gandhi initially fight only for better treatment at the hands of British? Yes. Did he eventually outgrow that idea and dedicate his life for Indian self-rule? Yes! Was Gandhi bi-sexual? That’s a new one. But honestly, how is that relevant to what he accomplished?

And the reviewer has inexplicably ignored the majority of the book which is supposed to be about why Gandhi appealed to so many and how he became such a central figure in the Indian independence stuggle.

Having said that, it should hardly shock anyone that Gandhi was a human being complete with flaws and misgivings. Gandhi is not admired because he was infallible. He is not admired because he was born a Mahatma with the same values and philosohphy he died with. He is admired because he tranformed into a person who challenged many things thought to be beyond challenge – traditions, social norms, and an oppressive empire. And importantly, he did so with a philosophy he developed over the course of his life. A philosohy of humility, truth and non-violence that few are capable of rising to. A philosophy that was difficult to comprehend then and seems impossible to relate to now. That is the reason Einstein says about Ghandhi that “Generations to come will scarce believe that such a one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth.”1 RecommendationLink

2 hours agoMike O’Malley replied:

Jignesh Shah writes: (Gandhi) is admired because he tranformed into a person who challenged many things thought to be beyond challenge – traditions, social norms, and an oppressive empire. And importantly, he did so with a philosophy he developed over the course of his life. A philosohy of humility, truth and non-violence that few are capable of rising to. A philosophy that was difficult to comprehend then and seems impossible to relate to now.”

.

Yes Gandhi’s philosophy is difficult to understand. How can one not be struck by Gandhi’s open letter to the Jews in Palestine and Germany published in the Harijan on November 26, 1938. I think of Monsignor Bernard Lichtenberg of the Berlin diocese who as sent by the Gestapo to Tegel Prison and who died in a concentration camp on his way to the Priests Bock in Dachau for the crime of praying in the pulpit for “arrested Jews”. How can one not sense in this letter Gandhi’s callousness and mocking cruelty toward Jews in the body of this carefully worded public statement by Gandhi? How can one excuse the policy payload packed into the conclusion of the letter where Gandhi writes: “There are hundreds of ways of reasoning with the Arabs, if (the Jews) will only discard the help of the British bayonet. As it is, they are co-sharers with the British in despoiling a people who have done no wrong to them. I am not defending the Arab excesses. I wish they had chosen the way of non-violence in resisting what they rightly regarded as an unwarrantable encroachment upon their country. But according to the accepted canons of right and wrong, nothing can be said against the Arab resistance in the face of overwhelming odds.”

No Gandhi doesn’t defend “Arab excesses”. Gandhi tells us he will not protest Islamic violence against Jews because such violence is morally justified!

Let’s see from Andrew Roberts’ review just how Gandhi was transformed into a Mahatma in his final years. Andrew Roberts observes; Gandhi tells “Muslims who had been responsible for the massacres of thousands of Hindus in East Bengal in 1946 that Islam “was a religion of peace,” and then goes on to treat Hindu victims of Islamic violence in 1946 with callous cruelty similar to the way he treated the Jews in late 1938!

A transformation Indeed!1 RecommendationLink

4 minutes agoSRINIVAS SUNDER replied:

Mike,

You’ve brought up the alleged “whitewashing” of Muslim massacres by Gandhi several times. Let me respond to that.

Gandhi was making the point that ALL violence was wrong, NOT that it’s ok when Muslims do it, and that communal riots triggered by Muslims in Muslim-majority areas (which naturally resulted in the deaths of minorities in those areas) did NOT justify doing the same unto Muslims in Hindu-majority areas. It does not take much more than common sense (and an unjaundiced set of eyes) to understand this. My own grandfather, certainly not a blind follower of Gandhi, understood this when he gave shelter to his Muslim landlord’s family in Hindu-majority Calcutta in 1947, when Hindu mobs were roaming the streets baying for Muslim blood.

And, he certainly was not advocating the British Government do nothing about it either. Indeed, he often castigated the British Government for their policies which pitted Hindu against Muslim, “upper caste” Hindu against “lower caste” Hindu against “untouchables.” These policies – such as the partition of Bengal in 1907 – were the triggers for much of the violence that occurred. He also castigated them for sitting by idly and letting these riots occur because they served their cynical purposes. The same British forces that could very effectively stem protests by hundreds of thousands of protesters with sticks and guns was perfectly happy to sit by and let riots between Hindus and Muslims to occur, because it benefited them for their enemies to be divided.

Your point about the linkage between such “whitewashing” and the massacres in East Pakistan in 1971 is, to put it charitably, undiluted rubbish. The vast majority of the people massacred by Pakistan’s armies in 1971 were Muslims, slaughtered by fellow Muslims. To the extent that Hindus were also butchered, it was not because of their faith, but because they were Bengalis agitating for the formation of a nation separate from West Pakistan. The West Pakistanis (mostly Pathans and Punjabis) thought that Bengalis (of all religions) were weak and effeminate. And slaughtered them w/o compunction (and raped the women) when they rose in protest. It took an Indian Army – led by a Parsi, and composed of Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Parsis and atheists, all of whom swore an oath to defend a Nation that they acknowledged Gandhi to be the Father of – to step in and throw the Pakistani Army out.

That said, Gandhi was unbelievably naive about the viciousness of Germans towards Jews and about that of the Japanese to their fellow Orientals. And, while he’s right that the Arabs had done no harm to the Jews (the Ottoman Empire was probably the most tolerant of the pre-WW1 empires unlike the European ones), his unbending approach w.r.t. the use of non-violence with those regimes would have fallen flat on its face. That makes him a poor judge of those regimes, not an evil one. If that’s the modified judgment of history, it’s but a mild tarnish.

RecommendLink

12 hours agoNat Ramachandran wrote:

I hope Andrew Roberts got paid well for writing this gossip. He could have made more money had he wrote this intellectually-defunct column in “The National Inquirer”.

For a man whose expertise is in brown-nosing the fat man (as “Family Guy” fame Stewie Griffin would call his Dad) Winnie Church-ill, he kinda went out of his league attempting to do a book review.

The problem isn’t that his review focused on the sexual weirdness of Gandhi or the fact that politically he achieved far less than he could have.

He could have reviewed the book for what it is and showcased a complex personality that Gandhi was. That is probably asking too much from Andrew Roberts. He wouldn’t consider himself–I certainly wouldn’t–to be qualified to write a decent book review.

Gandhi never considered himself as a demi-God (for the most part Western journalists made him into one) nor did he consider himself to be a political exemplar (again made up by Western journalists).

For those that want a decent review of what Gandhi did, read Nehru’s chapter on Gandhi (“The Coming of Gandhi”) in his “Discovery of India”.

All that Gandhi wanted was for the British to leave India, to achieve that freedom in a non-violent way, to stem the tide of religious violence, and, finally, to uplift the millions of people in the lowest socio-economic strata. None of this is easy, especially given the socio-economic milieu within India.

Gandhi was an ambitious, stubborn and insistent man. All said, in the end the lanky Gandhi comprehensively mauled up the fatuous English fatso Winston Churchill (hell, his own country threw him out of power–probably his lunch tab was becoming unbearable for the English taxpayer).

Andrew Roberts – I will send you $10 if you promise not to write a book review ever again.RecommendLink

12 hours agoPIYUSH DHANUKA replied:

Nehru’s review is of course biased. He was Gandhi’s hand-picked successor.2 RecommendationsLink

4 hours agoMike O’Malley replied:

Yes Mr. Dhanuka, and was not Nehru’s power and prestige founded in no small part on the myth of the “Great Soul”?RecommendLink

2 hours agoSRINIVAS SUNDER replied:

Despite being Gandhi’s successor, Nehru was not a Gandhian. He was an urbanist, not an agrarian, in terms of economic philosophy. He had no problem using the Army to bash Pakistan as and when it was needed. And he certainly was no celibate, given his romance with Lady Edwina (which may not have been sexual, but unquestionably existed).

Indeed, in most ways, he was the un-Gandhi. His description of himself was “Hindu by birth, Muslim by upbringing, European by education.” The difference was that, like discerning individuals (which this reviewer has shown himself to NOT be), he saw the essence of the man, and recognized both political effectiveness and the inherent nobility of non-violence as an approach to fighting an enemy that had almost unlimited ability to fight back with sticks and bullets but virtually no moral ammunition.

I am not a Nehru fan, by the way. India could have been a much more prosperous nation much earlier on had it not been for his love-affair with Socialism (that darned European education!). But he was still a great man in his own way (just not the ways that I would have liked him to be great in).RecommendLink

1 hour agoMike O’Malley replied:

Fair enough Mr. Sunder, but Nehru might well be an unreliable biographer of Gandhi because Nehru’s power and prestige founded in no small part on the myth of the “Great Soul”?RecommendLink

1 hour agoNat Ramachandran replied:

Fair enough Mike.

But you consider the book — which, at best, is a third degree distant review and understanding — to be a better one than Nehru’s?

I am planning to read it but I know how to assess Gandhi as I’ve read about him from multiple forums as well as different angles. This book, by highlighting some oddities of Gandhi, is likely to leave a bad opinion about him.

Hence my suggestion to read Nehru.RecommendLink

14 hours agoDaniela Arno wrote:

The reviewer is only the messenger bringing the bad news about Gandhi. Why kill the messenger? If you want to criticize someone, criticize the author who wrote this biography. What’s the problem? Too much detail we are not open-minded enough to accept?1 RecommendationLink

13 hours agoJignesh Shah replied:

Does open minded mean only looking at part of the picture to form an opinion? The reviewer deserves the flak he is getting. Based on other reviews and the authors own comments, it is a gross representation of the book. Here is a different review from another prominent US news source. Hope you are open minded enough to read it! http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/30/books/in-great-soul-joseph-lelyveld-re-examines-gandhi.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss1 RecommendationLink

13 hours agoMike O’Malley replied:

So when are we going to see a few more open minds, among the defenders of Gandhi, critically considering factual historical actions of Gandhi that would sink the reputation of just about any other leader?RecommendLink

12 hours agoDaniela Arno replied:

The review you posted is the same as the WSJ review. Clearly Gandhi was a sexual pervert and a pedophile. And he accomplished exactly nothing politically.1 RecommendationLink

11 hours agoJohn Smon replied:

Please list one instance in which Gandhi ever molested or even had a sexual attraction towards a prepubescent child, you absolutely horrible, revolting woman. This biography was a positive biography of Gandhi. The pathetic individual who wrote this review twisted it to his own means, attacking liberals.2 RecommendationsLink

4 hours agoMike O’Malley replied:

Notice Ms. Arno how those who offer factual criticism of Gandhi are repeatedly subjected to ad hominem attack and vilification in this comment area. According to John Smon you are “absolutely horrible, revolting woman” because you transgressed the ‘Great Soul’.

Over and over again the Wall Street Journal is shamed for daring to publish unflattering fact about Gandhi. Jenna Rome above writes. “(t)his is a shameful book “review”. And it is utterly shameful that the WSJ would publish such out and out slanderous garbage.” One wonders where these pro-Gandhi voices of protest have been during the relentless daily slandering and vilification of persons of far better character than Gandhi: such as Pope Pius XII, Pres. George W. Bush and Sarah Palin?

Imagine the response if Pres. George Bush Sr. was found to have said the following about African Americans: “”We were then marched off to a prison intended for Kaffirs,” Gandhi complained during one of his campaigns for the rights of ­Indians settled there. “We could understand not being classed with whites, but to be placed on the same level as the ­Natives seemed too much to put up with. Kaffirs are as a rule uncivilized—the convicts even more so. They are troublesome, very dirty and live like animals.”

Or imagine what would have been said of Rev. Martin Martin Luther King if during the civil rights protests Rev. King had penned up African Americans at ‘the back of the bus’ the way Gandhi treated India’s Untouchables.

“At (Gandhi’s) monster rallies against Untouchability in the 1930s, which tens of thousands of people attended, the Untouchables themselves were kept in holding pens well away from the caste Hindus.”RecommendLink

12 hours agoJignesh Shah replied:

While I cannot imagine how you arrived at such a conclusion, I am glad you at least read the other review.RecommendLink

9 hours agoHarsh Agarwala replied:

Please do not confuse open-minded with a voyeuristic and fetishist bent. The reviewer himself starts off by saying that the book is mostly positive about the life and contributions of Gandhi and then goes on to single out and discuss Gandhi’s idiosyncrasies in graphic detail. The reviewer is rightly being slammed for his ineptness and obviously prejudiced approach.

There should indeed be an open and frank discussion about Gandhi but any discussion using drivel passing off for a book review as its basis should be best kept aside for a third rate S&M website.1 RecommendationLink

3 hours agoMike O’Malley replied:

OK Mr. Agarwala, do you want to try your hand at my questions comparing Gandhi to Martin Luther King and Pres. George Bush Sr. above?

What about Andrew Roberts’ criticism of Gandhi’s whitewashing Islamic religious cleansing and massacres of thousands of Hindus in East Bengal in 1946? Did Gandhi’s negation of Islamic violence against non-Muslims contribute to the slaughter of millions of Hindus in East Pakistan in 1971. Muslim apologists to this day deflect criticism of Islamic violence and tout Gandhi when offering character reference for Islam’s peaceful non-violent nature in its relations with non-Muslims. Gandhi did not so restrained his critiques of Christianity or of Jewish refugees fleeing Germany for Palestine in 1938.

Tell us Mr. Agarwala, how many of the twenty some paragraphs of this review address Gandhi’s sexual perversion? Might not the inclusion of such information illustrate the degree to which the myth of the Great Soul relies upon whitewash? Might not Gandhi ‘sexual’ relationship with and viciousness to Manu, his great niece, provide context for our understanding Gandhi’s character and public persona? ,RecommendLink

2 hours agoHarsh Agarwala replied:

First things first Mr. O’Malley. I am not a Gandhi apologist but i do object to his decisions being arbitrarily illustrated in the context of his “personal” sexual tendencies.

With regards to your specific questions:

a) I do not quite understand your question with regards to GB Sr. Your observation about Martin Luther King is a bizarre analogy because from my limited understanding Martin Luther King was himself an African American while Gandhi was definitely not an untouchable. Untouchables being permitted to attend a public event in early 20th century India was in itself an achievement. Please bear in mind that during this period, untouchables were not even allowed to use the same roads in some cases. Having said that, segregation on the basis of birth is definitely deplorable and Gandhi should have done even more to include them in the mainstream. Perhaps, and i am guessing here, he was afraid that too bold a step might result in an even stronger backlash from the mainstream. Blaming Gandhi for not doing enough against untouchability is akin to blaming Abraham Lincoln for not having done enough to prevent segregation of American Americans. Miracles do not happen overnight. The process STARTED by one great man can sometimes take a century before it fructifies.

b) It was a deplorable move by Gandhi to justify violence of any kind in any context, especially since he was an ardent advocate of non-violence. However any connection between his justification of communal violence in the 40s and the communal cleansing of the 70s is tenuous at best.

c) Gandhi, i am sure did not have a deep enough understanding of the issues and crisis roiling Europe and the Middle-East in the 40s so it would have been best had he kept his trap shut. But a caveat here, Gandhi was a public figure and public figures are expected to have an opinion about everything.

d) I am afraid i did not count the number of paragraphs describing his bedroom behavior and i am unlikely to do it on your behest. An individuals personal behavior might give you clues to public persona but any such analysis should be done by trained professionals who have access to the context of the situation as well as the veracity of the situation described. Hearsay can be a very damaging source of information which is why most courts of justice do not accept it as evidence.

Lastly, any unbiased assessment studies the context as diligently as it studies the actions. This “book review” falls short on being diligent about anything. Perhaps the book might be more insightful. I will pick up a copy over the weekend, i suggest you do the same before recommencing this debate!RecommendLink

2 hours agoSRINIVAS SUNDER replied:

Daniela,

The point is not open-mindedness, so much as narrow-mindedness. If the reviewer had even made the slightest attempt to point out the monumental accomplishments of the man before attempting a tendentious take-down with facts taken out of context and a total ignorance of history (for someone who professes to be a historian!), the debate would not be necessary.RecommendLink

1 hour agoNat Ramachandran replied:

Daniela is seeking attention.

With Twitter-like thoughts (confined to bumper stickers) she is attempting to argue.

Just acknowledge her ability to speak English, which would make her very happy.

This is a shameful book “review”. And it is utterly shameful that the WSJ would publish such out and out slanderous garbage. As an American, I wonder if we would stand it if someone wrote such a blatant piece of hate literature cloaking it as a book review. Can someone write a review that calls JFK an out and out philanderer misogynist who disrespected women, spread disease through sex, was involved with organized crime, achieved his greatness due to the black money of his father (earned from bootlegged liquor and other dubious means), had a great sense of entitlement (like his father Joe Kennedy)? C’mon!! The outcry, especially from the family and their supporters would be deafening.

What does this guy have against Gandhi? Trying to sell books? Did Gandhi do some strange things? Yes. Just like MLK, JFK, GWBush I, Clinton (I mean really, how disgusting what that man did IN OFFICE) and countless other world leaders and icons. They were HUMAN. This does not take away from their great contributions to the world.

Your reviewer is very obviously biased, and it is clear he has been waiting for a moment to make his prejudices known. I’d love to know what is in his closet. Shame on the WSJ for publishing such blatant filth.2 RecommendationsLink

14 hours agoDaniela Arno replied:

The truth stings, does it? When the shoe fits…etc…etc…1 RecommendationLink

13 hours agoMike O’Malley replied:

Yes, indeed Ms. Arno, if the shoe fits!

Yes Gandhi “(j)ust like MLK, JFK, GWBush I, Clinton (I mean really, how disgusting what that man did IN OFFICE) … ” Except substitute American “Negro” for Hindu “Untouchable” below and can you imagine Martin Martin Luther King trying to pull-off this trick during the civil rights protests during the 1960s?

“At (Gandhi’s) monster rallies against Untouchability in the 1930s, which tens of thousands of people attended, the Untouchables themselves were kept in holding pens well away from the caste Hindus.”

Or imagine the response if George Bush Sr. was found to have said the following about African Americans: “”We were then marched off to a prison intended for Kaffirs,” Gandhi complained during one of his campaigns for the rights of ­Indians settled there. “We could understand not being classed with whites, but to be placed on the same level as the ­Natives seemed too much to put up with. Kaffirs are as a rule uncivilized—the convicts even more so. They are troublesome, very dirty and live like animals.”

.

Yes MLK, JFK, GHWB & William Jefferson Clinton were and are human, but somehow Gandhi is above factual criticism for what would make any modern ‘human’ leader an object of scorn.

Say what you like about Pres. Clinton’s personal life, but at least Pres. Clinton had the moral clarity to stop the genocide and the religious cleansing in Bosnia and Kosovo; much unlike the “Great Soul” who ‘gave To a Hindu” victim of Islamic genocide and religious cleansing in East Bengal “who asked how his co-religionists could ever return to villages from which they had been ethnically cleansed, Gandhi blithely replied: “I do not mind if each and every one of the 500 families in your area is done to death.”1 RecommendationLink

15 hours agoWilliam Griese wrote:

Hillarious! I always found it odd that so many people act like this guy was the greatest man who ever lived or whatnot. Very illuminating!2 RecommendationsLink

13 hours agoJignesh Shah replied:

If you found this review illuminating, maybe you should read the whole book! Which, it seems, is quite different from what is presented in this WSJ review.RecommendLink

23 hours agoajay gopalan wrote:

sure, gandhi wasn’t perfect and had his vices and his imperfections, but he was still a pretty phenomenal person who fought hard for india’s independence2 RecommendationsLink

1 day agoNARAYANADAS UPADHYAYULA wrote:

The intention of the new biographer of the Mahatma seems to be only to shock and awe, sensationalize and make money. He reminds me of Sue Wiley, a character in Irving Wallace’s “The Prize”: Here is Wiley’s portrait as Wallace depicted it:

“To Sue Wiley…truth was undependable. If you dug for truth you would uncover no treasure but instead have dull hard facts, proving nothing, accomplishing nothing…She had been blind to the value of truth because its rewards were unpredictable…‘Make ’em say ‘Gee Whiz’, and that was it really, and devil take the facts. A sound rumour, an apocryphal anecdote, a distorted quotation, a whispered scandal, even if one-half true or less, was to be preferred to nothing-but-the-truth, if nothing-but-the-truth was an anesthetic. The point was to excite, create talk, sell newspapers…

“…Sue Wiley was not immoral but amoral. She was too self-absorbed to anticipate hurt inflicted or wonder about it afterwards. She was not inherently ill-intentioned, even though her technique was often harmful…

“…Her delight was not in learning of Julius Caesar’s campaigns but in learning that he wore a crown of laurel to hide his increasing baldness. Napoleon’s victories left her cold, but the information that he possessed exceptionally small ‘reproductive organs’ fascinated her…Dr. William Lyon Phelps’ complaint, ‘Instead of selecting a subject, modern biographers pick a victim. It’s getting so that good men are afraid to die’ left her unmoved…

“The International Red Cross is a sacred cow. Sue Wiley seized upon the 1 per cent of it that was defective to condemn the entire organisation. The Boy Scouts of America were inviolable. Sue Wiley spanked them…She misused her letters of introduction to Dr. Albert Schweitzer…entirely ignoring his brilliance and selflessness…described him…solely as an egotistical Teutonic tyrant who inefficiently conducted an unsanitary jungle hospital…” (Wallace, Irving. The Prize. New English Library, London. 1981. p.134-5).RecommendLink

Your account type requires additional information before we can set up your profile. Please send your login username and your real first and last name to journalcommunity@wsj.comTrack replies to my comment

This is write-up is nothing but absolute tripe….Its an attempt to slander the image of one of the greatest statesman ever. Shocking to see such an article in WSJ.2 Recommendations

Link

1 day ago

Ranjit Goswami wrote:

How do I react – reading the article itself was a big shock. Now I have been reading the comments…

Mala Kumar and many others feel without Gandhiji, India would not have been freed. Without being a historian, I wonder whether all the nations in the world that attained freedom – starting primarily from the end of WWII – do they all have an iconic figure like Gandhi? Well, for South Africa – which was indeed delayed, we had Mandela – however what about the remaining nations from Asia, Africa or even LatAm? To the best of my knowledge – most don’t have any Gandhi like figure – and they still got free from British or French or Spanish or Dutch colonies?

It was the global developments more in play than the local freedom struggles. I am not ignoring the local protests, but getting the macro-picture is more important.

Coming back to many other views – which even partly I have that how can Joseph Lelyveld or Andrew Roberts hurt the feelings of millions of Indians, who treat Gandhi like God – my question would be – did they say this when M F Hussain painted Indian Gods naked. Let me be honest – I was more hurt (and then started ignoring rather than being hurt) than this piece here.

Yes, India did promote Gandhi more than others (and lately the Nehru dynasty). So most eminent Indians – not excluding freedom fighters alone, did not receive their fame compared to Gandhi. JFK said: ‘The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie — deliberate, contrived and dishonest, but the myth, persistent, persuasive, and unrealistic. Belief in myths allows the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.’

We should only support that the truth overcomes myths and lies.

There are reasons to respect China and Chinese prudence. China is one of the nations that is not driven by hypes. China has always (including Premier Wen Jiabao’s recent India visit) shown deep love with Tagore – one of great thinkers of mankind. The greatest of the people from any nationality should first be great man themselves – nationalities come later.2 Recommendations

Link

21 hours agoVinay Duggal replied:

Gandhi started the process.RecommendLink

1 day ago

HIMANSHU PANT wrote:

Is it the same Andrew Roberts who said “for Churchill, apotheosis came in 1940; for Tony Blair, it will come when Iraq is successfully invaded and hundreds of weapons of mass destruction are unearthed from where they have been hidden by Saddam’s henchmen” http://bit.ly/gLf7?

If yes, I do not think anything more needs to be said about his credentials or the quality of his review or even WSJ’s wisdom in choosing him to review a book on Gandhi.

He is clearly part and parcel of the tribe of intellectual hacks who are actually propagandists and spies for the imperial powers. Their main job is to make sure to destroy any icon or personality, living or historical that can come from any civilization or country apart from theirs. His predecessors did that so well, that in many a colony till today, they look up to the cultures of their imperial masters and have for heroes those who exploited them shamelessly.

The British did this divide and rule well for many centuries, exploiting any and every fissure, division or difference of opinion to rule over the colonies, but seems Andrew has not realized, we will not fall for it again, the ruled have become smarter.5 Recommendations

Link

1 day ago

Sulla Felix wrote:

Oh boy……this is going to be bigger than James Laine.Recommend

Link

1 day ago

CHANDRA VARANASI wrote:

Which issues are you referring to?Gandhi’s role in mobilizing the masses is unquestioned. Prior to his return from South Africa in 1915, Congress was pretty much a debating society with the likes of Tilak and Gokhale. His efforts at Hindu Muslim unity and his desire for it was genuine. So was his passion and work in trying to eradicate untouchability. His fanatical display of modesty drove a lot of people nuts, as did his pointless and almost comical experiments with celibacy – all of which was perhaps rooted in his parochial upbringing of a middle class Hindu. He never tried to dazzle anybody with his sophistication – intellectual or otherwise, but his ability to move the country was unrivaled.1 Recommendation

Link

1 day agoPIYUSH DHANUKA replied:

“Sleeping naked with his 17-year-old great-niece”- is that true or false? Can you prove it to be false?2 RecommendationsLink

1 day ago

CHANDRA VARANASI wrote:

One of the occupational hazards of being a historian, it is often said, is that you could develop a blind love affair with your subjects. Having written a bit too much about the second world war, Roberts seems to have imbibed Churchill’s unadulterated hatred of Gandhi. Not the sensational stuff about this Kallenbach guy, which is par for the course for a reviewer desperate to get attention; not Gandhi’s attitude towards blacks in South Africa that he describes with a ‘gotcha’ relish – it is his effort to completely belittle Gandhi’s role in India’s freedom movement. It behooves an imperialist to praise the moderation of Britain in ‘only’ arresting Gandhi as opposed to having him ‘shot’ as Hilter might have! Have never read such a contemptuous piece before, inviting contempt in return for the reviewer. With such a lack of balance on display, is it possible for him to have written any nuanced history about any subject? I certainly have second thoughts in my mind about Roberts’s intellect now. His final comment that Britain would have gone on merrily ruling India but for the costly War, begs the question: to what end? just to continue to bear the white man’s burden of having to civilize the natives? or maybe just to rob some more of whatever was left of India?2 Recommendations

Link

1 day agoPIYUSH DHANUKA replied:

His commentry may be one-sided and biased, but are the issue raised false?2 RecommendationsLink

1 day agoMike O’Malley replied:

Notice Mr. Dhanuka how often defense of Gandhi in these comments involves ad hominem attack upon Andrew Roberts, who is currently being vilified in quarters around the web for the sin of airing some of Gandhi’s dirty laundry. One must wonder, why do Gandhi’s admirers efface and excuse Gandhi’s flaws by dismissing Andrew Robert’ factual critique unanswered.

Why is Gandhi above fair and factual criticism? One may marvel at how Gandhi is so often given a pass despite the facts while other moral leaders such as Pope Pius XII and Pope Benedict XVI are often readily condemned and vilified without factual basis.

As I wrote earlier.I have long been troubled by some of Gandhi’s statements to and about Jews during the time of the Third Reich. Where some find support for non-violence I find cold indifference, insensitivity and even cruel dismissive mockery of Jews during a time of frightful suffering. Gandhi wrapped approval of Islamic violence against Jews in Palestine in the rhetoric of non-violent resistance. One may wonder why isn’t Gandhi’s failure to actually condemn Muslim violence against Jews held up to the same critical examination applied to other contemporaneous moral leaders?3 RecommendationsLink

1 day ago

Edward Veeser wrote:

Embarrassing, WSJ.

This ilterary critic makes absolute statements that make the whole review nonsense. All politics all the time makes this Professor seem a little simple, like an undergraduate writing his first attack piece. Where is the whole Gandhi? Why on earth did all those people revere him and did he have anything at all to do with forcing the British out?

I don’t think the reviewer has a clue about his subject, whether or not he’s got some or all of his facts right.4 Recommendations

Link

1 day agoMala Kumar replied:

So true Mr. Veeser! Couldn’t have said it any better. Shame on WSJ!!1 RecommendationLink

1 day ago

PIYUSH DHANUKA wrote:

In response to Jitesh Ramanathu’s reply : ” You missed important points in the whole article. The very reason why Gandhiji was criticized during the world war was because, he decided to revolt against the British at such a crucial hour. He was somewhere in between Bose (totally aligning with the Japanese), and Jinnah (who was totally with the British). The author is clearly with Jinnah on this issue. Whose side are you?

Why did Gandhi not act on his promise to India that “patition will happen over my dead body”?

Gandhians blame other politicians for partition. Gandhi could have easily started an Anshan (Greast Fast) to prevent partition, and masses would have follwed him. He did not do that, and masses suddenly woke up to the reality of partition. Result was a genocide of both Hindus & Muslims and a forever state of war. People trusted him, worshiped him; and he failed the people of Indian subcontinent at their most critical moment.

1 Recommendation

Link

1 day agoPIYUSH DHANUKA replied:

Will someone answer the question please:

Why did Gandhi not act on his promise to India that “patition will happen over my dead body”?

Gandhians blame other politicians for partition. Gandhi could have easily started an Anshan (Greast Fast) to prevent partition, and masses would have follwed him. He did not do that, and masses suddenly woke up to the reality of partition. Result was a genocide of both Hindus & Muslims and a forever state of war. People trusted him, worshiped him; and he failed the people of Indian subcontinent at their most critical moment.2 RecommendationsLink

1 day agomathew ninan wrote:

That a venerable journal would allow a self confessed white supremacist to write a commentary on Gandhi shows what depths your publication has sunk to, since takeover by the Australians. During the latter years of Gandhi’s life the so-called ‘advanced’ civilizations were ruled by men such as Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini and followed by mass murderers such as Chairman Mao. Compared to these, Gandhi was indeed a ‘saint’. As for the ruler of the ‘Empire’ at that time, I reserve the last few lines. A juvenile delinquent who was expelled from his school, a ne’er do well who only made it in politics due to his upper class connections, a man who constantly and publicly uttered racial comments his whole life, was Gandhi’s chief critic. His so-called leadership during World War 2 came primarily from a series of speeches he supposedly made during the war. Not surprisingly, it later turned out that it all the speeches were by an actor, and not our hero himself. The British at least had the decency to unceremoniously sack him at the end of the war. To ignorant authors such as your book reviewever, Gandhi would have said ” Go in peace, my son”.2 RecommendationsLink

1 day agoPIYUSH DHANUKA replied:

You are forgetting that many great civilizations had great leaders as well: Washington, Franklin, Jefferson, Lincoln to name a few. Why stoop down to dictator. Expect more from your leaders.1 RecommendationLink

1 day agoIan Kris wrote:

I don’t know why a British historian born in 1963 would be invited to write a review about a book on M.K. Gandhi. He has brought the same lens he has used to study the eccentric characters of British history. His vision is blurred, and Gandhi will be the first one to laugh it off and forgive him. India is still one of the few places on earth that will mourn the victims and pray for the terrorists who inflict pain and suffering. In India, to be civilized or cultured means showing restraint.2 RecommendationsLink

1 day agoPIYUSH DHANUKA replied:

That is why India had to suffer slavery for almost 1000 years3 RecommendationsLink

1 day agoIan Kris replied:

India has a long rich tradition of argumentative and logical reasoning, and it has survived despite the invasion of foreign powers. India’s hospitality and wealth have long attracted foreigners — why else would foreign powers come? This book reviewer shows contempt for India, not just for the putative father of the nation — his yardstick is the per capita income and how much higher it could have been. If the per capita is $1.25, then why do the so called economically advanced countries want to do business there?

India has changed the minds and hearts of all visitors from the Mughal invaders to the colonial powers to the hippies. Indian society is more open and welcoming than any other place on this earth. It is India, its ethos and culture, that frees outsiders suffering from the mental trap of all kinds of problems large and small. Let us salute the country that has shown the world what freedom and open society truly mean.1 RecommendationLink

1 day agoMike O’Malley replied:

I disagree with you Mr. Ian Kris. Critique of a founding father is not the same as showing contempt for a nation. One may for instance be critical of Thomas Jefferson’s sexual misuse of the Sally Hemings, Jefferson’s racism, Jefferson’s support of radical political violence in France and elsewhere and Jefferson’s dirty backroom politics hidden behind noble rhetoric and still be a patriotic American.2 RecommendationsLink

As far as I am concerned, you are committing blasphemy and the moderator should ban you from this community. Gandhi ji is God to millions of people. How dare you attack him. It is no less than attacking Lord Krishna, Lord Rama or Virgin Marry. Shame on you.RecommendLink

Wow! You really have no logic in any of your comments. I am yet to see a single intelligent comment from you. You are the classical example of hypocrisy- hating people while professing love. Introspection time, Jeevan!2 RecommendationsLink

12 hours agoNat Ramachandran replied:

PK – I am with you. None of your comments should be deleted.

I don’t think you wrote anything that’s inflamed me. I just wish you ignored the sexual weirdo business.

But your comments should not be deleted.RecommendLink

12 hours agoPIYUSH DHANUKA replied:

I have no proof for any sexual weirdness or orientation, and do not care for that. Still, “allegation (or self admittance)” of sleeping naked with an UNDERAGE great-niece is bothersome enough to warrant further scrutiny. I would like to see any solid proof for or against that.RecommendLink

1 day agoVIVEK JAIN wrote:

The sad part in all of this is that the reason British left, in addition to Attlee, was that there was a group of Indians who were willing to take up arms against the British Army and it was somewhat difficult for British to control it given the overall non-violence sheen to the Indian freedom struggle by Gandhi. In that scenario, he was very useful. The problem is that we did not get independence. We got transfer of power. The army men, police, and bureaucracy that was supporting the British on August 13th was still in-charge on August 16th. This coupled with the fact that we were led by corrupt Nehru – Gandhi (Indira and family) clan after independence has caused the massive poverty. If India had adopted a free market economy and a better rule of law, perhaps by having Sardar Vallabhai Patel as the prime minister instead of Nehru, we might have a different India now. The fact that we have $1.4 trillion of Indian wealth in Swiss and Cayman Island accounts in the name of corrupt politicians, bureaucrats, and crony capitalists is a testament to our inability to gain true freedom on August 15, 1947.4 RecommendationsLink

1 day agoPIYUSH DHANUKA replied:

You are absolutely right. Sacrifices of patriots like Bhagat Singh, Azad, Bismillah Khan, Bose, Savarkar, Tilak, Lal-Bal-Pal have been systematically supreesed from Indian public psych by Gandhians.2 RecommendationsLink

1 day agoMala Kumar replied:

We are kidding ourselves if we think that a few freedom fighters would have won us the freedom from THE empire…it would have only succeeded in inciting a much more brutal suppression by the British. It was the genius of Gandhi to recognize that freedom would come only with the broader support of the world community while taking a higher moral ground….”Generations to come, it may well be, will scarce believe that such a man as this one ever in flesh and blood walked upon this Earth”, Albert EinsteinRecommendLink

1 day agosujata verma wrote:

In an attempt to be provocative, the book reviewer exposes his immense ignorance about Indian history, people and culture.Despite the title of the review, the question of ‘What makes a person a hero?’ is never explored.Fact is that Indians at that time revered him like a god and were willing to lay down their lives at his bidding.The book reviewer may have a hero in his life, who may come up short in the eyes of others. This will be because others do not share the same beliefs and value systems.So, go ahead and worship your heros, gods and leaders (or not), and don’t debase yourself by attacking other peoples faith in their heros.3 RecommendationsLink

1 day agoDeo Singh replied:

ms.verma – if the author is right, which is very likely, then we must conclude that gandhi’s followers were bamboozled, misled and lied to by that so called paragon of non violence, but for whom, ,my country woudl have attained freedom much sooner and perhaps avoided the catastrophe of partition. not to mention, our national character would have been different today.1 RecommendationLink

1 day agoPIYUSH DHANUKA replied:

Britons knwe that Gandhi and his followers were their best weapon to keep in the Indian public in a trance. That is why Britush rulers never jailed Gandhi in brutal “Kala Pani” the way the jailed and torchered patriots like Savarker and others.1 RecommendationLink

1 day agoFrancis DeStefano wrote:

I wonder how many of Gandhi’s apologists would use the same arguments to defend a Roman Catholic priest accused of pedophilia?5 RecommendationsLink

1 day agoPIYUSH DHANUKA replied:

Most of the Gandhians (including the commentators on ths forum), do not deny the “alleged minor abuse” . They only defend him because they believe that he taught the world non-violence and got India’s freedom.1 RecommendationLink

1 day agoFrancis DeStefano replied:

It was not alleged, it was self-admitted. No one today would consider forcing one’s niece to strip and sleep with you as a “minor” offense. Even the accusation of such an offense today would cause a priest to be disgraced no matter what good he had done before.2 RecommendationsLink

12 hours agoNat Ramachandran replied:

Try St. Augustine’s Confessions. The Catholic Church has a checkered history when it comes to child abuse.

Even so, Francis, I find Gandhi admirable beyond his sexual weirdo business, as I do whenever I read St. Augustine’s Confessions.RecommendLink

2 days agoRobert Graves wrote:

Gandhi is revealed as having significant character flaws, yet no single flaw fully defines him. But, taken together, his flaws give us a complete picture of Ghandi, the person.

The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.2 RecommendationsLink

1 day agoMike O’Malley replied:

Andrew Roberts demonstrates that Gandhi’s hagiographers consistently hide and downplay Gandhi’s flaws. As do Gandhi’s apologists. Indeed it shouldn’t take much effort to search and find that Andrew Roberts is currently being vilified in quarters around the web for the sin airing some of Gandhi’s dirty laundry. One must wonder, why do Gandhi’s admirers efface and excuse Gandhi’s flaws and then presume to instruct us that Gandhi is a great person, a sum greater than its parts. How may one confidently claim to have a complete picture of Gandhi in such an envioronment?

I have long been troubled by some of Gandhi’s statements to and about Jews during the time of the Third Reich. Where some find support for non-violence I find cold insensitivity and even cruel dismissive mockery of Jews during a time of frightful suffering. Albeit Gandhi packaged his apparent malice in rhetoric of non-violent resistance. Who is right? Could Gandhi be cruel? Did cruelty inform Gandhi’s character? Might Gandhi have been inconsistent enough in his practice of non-violence resistance to accede to Islamic violence in Palestine against Jews fleeing the Nazis horror? We will never know unless brave souls challenge Gandhi’s hagiographers.RecommendLink

1 day agoPIYUSH DHANUKA replied:

Indians being deeply religious are very prone to worship anyone who claims to be a man of God. Gandhi used religion extensively to acheive that. Gandhians give him the twin status of being a spiritual saint and politicalleadre at the same time. Result was a confused Indian struggle against slavery. This is propoagated by “scholar elites” who have a “feel-good” philosophy of liberal idealism (ie- escape from reality); and look down upon anything with common sense (liked armed freedom struggle).1 RecommendationLink

2 days agoVinod Dawda wrote:

Gandhi looked at his life as an experiment with truth and non violence. In the process he allowed complete transparency as it was fairly central to it. One has to look at India at the time where an ordinary Indian had little dignity and less wealth and perhaps no identity except humiliating caste system to give some meaning. The better off Indians were busy aping the colonial masters whom they worshiped. Gandhi changed all that and set Indians on course of recovery and dignified identity releasing them from centuries of status quo.This process had to be based on its own heritage to be viable.Unbridled capitalism and relentless exploitation by a few with total disregard to its consequences became positive savage and ugly.Gandhi was able to question this and inspire many to look inwards. The idea that India could have achieved independence earlier is hollow as it would have been some 200 countries steeped into relentless internecine fights. Gandhi never promoted or supported religious or class based divisions while respecting individual identity.He had seen the viciousness and degradation of the colonial and princely shackles. Gandhi transformed the Brown Sahibs of the Congress to Indians and gave them some spine. Reading Gandhi with some humility and an open mind is an enriching experience. Read him with a extreme capitalist mindset and you get a guilt trip or end up seeking comfort from this article.1 RecommendationLink

1 day agoPIYUSH DHANUKA replied:

His personal experiments are acceptable as long as they were legal (not child-abuse). He expected the whole country to follow him. Of course, Gandhians will say that he forced no one, but he must have known that his word was a God’s word for India’s poor uneducated masses. He was very good at maipulating them.1 RecommendationLink

21 hours agoNeil Bandari replied:

Every great leader is a master manipulator. Leadership by definition is manipulation (hopefully benign, otherwise you end up a Hitler).1 RecommendationLink

2 days agoLawrence Brown wrote:

Glenn Beck should read this review and find a new “hero.” Gandhi makes Woodrow Wilson look great by comparison. Andrew Roberts should do an iconoclastic article on “Junior” next, another one of Beck’s secular saints with feet of clay.3 RecommendationsLink

2 days agoNikol Jakobson wrote:

We in USA should be very thankful to Gandhi: he is largely responsible to sending Indian economic development on Socialist path – giving USA unprecedented opportunity to dominate the world economy.Thank to Gandhi American girls not doing data entry for big Indian corporations – it is another way around.Mao – another grate name, comes to mind.2 RecommendationsLink

2 days agoJeevan Anand replied:

Nikol, your ignorance is a bliss for you.RecommendLink

Jane Levine wrote:

Even for a News Corp paper, the Wall Street Journal has stooped to a new low in having Andrew Roberts review a book about Gandhi. Roberts is a self-confessed right wing reactionary and a white supremacist. He is hardly the sort of person who would write an objective and thoughtful review of a work of this sort. That is clearly obvious from the tenor of his review.4 Recommendations

Link

2 days ago

ANAY AGGARWAL wrote:

It was really sad to see such an article in reputed newspapers like WSJ. I am shocked to see that the whole article has been written like a gossip column without proper reference to the different stories that have been cited in the article. For example, many things quoted in the article are already part of Gandhi’s autobiography ‘My experiments with truth’. However, when you read the context behind it, you only have deep respect for the boldness and courage shown by Gandhi and openly telling to the world. I would bet any amount of money to tell me name of 1 more person in this world who claimed so boldly about his experiments and WHY HE DID THEM? The author completely misses the point. The funny thing is that the reviewer didn’t even spend time to talk about context behind those stories. Really shameful on WSJ to publish such articles without properly checking for everything..6 Recommendations

Link

2 days ago

Mark Edwords wrote:

Holy cow! A subject has dawned to the age when theories and sources can no longer be accurately investigated. Suddenly, a book comes out boldly but speciously validating every disgruntled group’s pet claims and “parallel universe predictions”. OMG Wall Street Journal needs to promote this! This is such an original concept! This has so much intellectual merit!

hahahahahaha what a bunch of fox newsers have come over since Murdoch bought this (trying to add credibility to their AM radio-based rants). They see some validation in discovering that Gandhi had a sea of neurotransmitters in his human brain.

Anyone who takes this book seriously will also enjoy 9/11 truther conspiracy books. Perfect reading for the tin tub outside your trailer.4 Recommendations

Link

2 days ago

Rajagopal Ravichandran wrote:

This book and the review are about utter sensationalism.Gandhi motivated a lot of great souls in his life and I believe he does today. I don’t mean the ‘great souls’ as the reviewer or the author would. They cannot understand the Gandhian ideal.4 Recommendations

Link

2 days agoRomesh Chander replied:

Sidd:

I agree. All the other discussion is nothing but academic trivia; and academics love to discuss trivia to death, just to show that they are intellectuals. Who cares Gandhi’s ideosyncracies; after all, everybody has his/her ideosyncracies. And Americans have their ideosyncracies too — they just talk about sex; I wonder if they have any sex; if they had, they won’t be yakyaking about it..3 RecommendationsLink

2 days agoJeevan Anand replied:

I totally agree. Not only that Mahatma Gandhi inspired others to adopt non violent means.RecommendLink

2 days ago

PIYUSH DHANUKA wrote:

In response to Hugho Cunninghum; “I have long wondered if it was purely coincidence that Indira chose to marry someone with the surname “Gandhi”. Growing up immersed in politics, she would have been intelligent enough to foresee the political advantage, if the prospective groom was otherwise compatible.”

Feroz Gandhi was adopted by Gandhi and given the surname Gandhi. This was done as Nehru was opposed to Indira-Feroz marriage on the basis of religious difference. Nehru always had political aspirations for Indira, and Indira having a last name “Gandhi” was convenient.3 Recommendations

Link

1 day agoHugo Cunningham replied:

Thanks for the leads.

I looked up “Feroze Gandhi” in Wikipedia, and find in the “discussion” section that it remains hotly disputed, whether Feroze was born with the surname “Gandhi” (possibly spelled diifferently), or picked it up on his mother’s side, or acquired it later.RecommendLink

1 day agoPIYUSH DHANUKA replied:

You are right, I do not have any proof on my hand, but the benefit Gandhi surname provided to Indira Gandhi and her successors is clear for anyone to see in India..1 RecommendationLink

2 days ago

Mala Kumar wrote:

*No one*, I repeat, *no one* need waste money on this book….I am surprised and dismayed that WSJ decided to print the book review, which is quite titillating itself. I shudder to think what the book itself contains. Gandhi was a human like everyone else. No where in the popular culture or Indian history are any of the “facts” about him mentioned. Wonder how much actual research was conducted by Mr Leyveld’s and how much was pure conjucture. Gandhi’s was steadfast in his ideals of non-violence, which many Indian saw as a weakness. He refused to succumb to religious divisions, which many saw as being overly accommodating towards muslims. Other than that, the “well research facts” in the book are totally baseless!! Please avoid at all costs…Shame on WSJ2 Recommendations

Link

2 days agoPIYUSH DHANUKA replied:

What happened to the “experimentation with truth”? You are telling people to not even read a book! Let them read and research and find out for themselves what is true and what is false.3 RecommendationsLink

2 days agoMark Edwords replied:

That is not the application of experimentation with truth. You need to revisit the definition of this concept.RecommendLink

2 days agoJeevan Anand replied:

Obviously you did not understand Mahatma Gandhi’s book or never cared to read it.RecommendLink

2 days agoIvan Soto replied:

Who are you kidding? Gandhi’s “steadfast ideals of non-violence” killed Indians by the thousands! That, while he sat on his bottom urging more Indians to sacrifice themselves. He was a pervert. He was a fraud. He was a worthless human being. He deserved what he got.3 RecommendationsLink

2 days ago

PIYUSH DHANUKA wrote:

Why do some civilizations become great, and some don’t? Let us scientifically examine 2 opposite case studies for comparison: US & India.

Founding fathers in US wanted total freedom (“liberty or death”). Gandhi & Gandhians wanted semi-autonomous state (until 1920s when other revolutionaries insisted on total freedom)

US constitution has one law for everyone. Indian constitution has personal civil code for every religion (to appease minorities).

Each state had equal right in US. In India, Kashmir still has a special status under article 370.

US economic system has been based on personal entrepreneurship. India system was based on Socialism (and still is)

US adopted modernization and newer technology. Gandhi & Gandhians went against it (Charkha & Cotton)

US undertook massive militarization . Gandhi-Nehru were against that.

Outcome is obvious!

Recommend

Link

2 days agoHugo Cunningham replied:

>Founding fathers in US wanted total freedom (“liberty or death”). Gandhi & Gandhians wanted semi-autonomous state (until 1920s when other revolutionaries insisted on total freedom)

I believe what Gandhi had in mind was “dominion status,” — de facto independence and equality like that enjoyed by Canada and Australia. Gandhi should not be blamed for the pig-headedness of British colonialists, who did not embrace such an idea until after a generation of bitterness and partition.

>Each state had equal right in US. In India, Kashmir still has a special status under article 370.

Look up “Puerto Rico” in Wikipedia. It has a distinct ethnicity and status, somewhat like Kashmir, though it is not claimed by a neighbor.

India a model of pacifism in its political and and military policies from independence to the present day? Fact backed reality or myth? Consider a mass destitute nation establishing and maintaining multimillion manned armies and other security forces and repeated wars that have been India’s fate from before independence was ever declared. What principles of non-violence and pacifist martyrdom were applied by the Gandhi guided elite in Kashmir, Hyderabad, ethnic cleansing campaigns in East Bengal, Punjab , Rajasthan, the Border War with China, or the massive military intervention to create Bangladesh? None of this suggests a militant pacifist tone to India’s internal of external policies. Add slavish support of Soviet totalitarianism and imperialism and the ludicrously provocative, unnecessary and cynically dishonest “peaceful” nuclear tests in 1973 and I submit the gravamen of your comments are very much at odds with reality as opposed to propaganda.RecommendLink

2 days agoJohn Shniper replied:

Correction: I should have stated “West Bengal”. I did not mean to imply that the ethnic riots on Indian territory in 1947 reflected official policy or could fairly be called pogroms. These gruesomeevents were the political and moral responsibility of the new Indian State and more effort was directed towards territorial acquisition opportunities in Kashmir and Hyderabad than protecting Muslim minorities from organized violence in the disputed or divided territories.RecommendLink

2 days ago

Harry Lewis wrote:

It’s about time for a revisionist history of Gandhi. There’s no mention of his distinguished service in the British Army, either.Recommend

Link

2 days agoRomesh Chander replied:

Harry:

There is nothing revisionist about his service to British military. All is well known, but is considered not much of importance to merit extensive mention.

In 1918, Gandhi himself set up desks to recruit Indians to fight for British in WW1, for which British gave him the highest honours. Unfortunately (or fortunately), WW1 ended soon, and hence Gandhi’s effort did not really provide many recruit; by the time they were ready to go, war ended.

Gandhi offered his services for the Boer War (1900-1902, when he did not even think of freedom). His offer was rejected because it was considered a White man’s war, between white people (English and Dutch), and was to be fought by white men. So, he offered ambulance services for picking up the wounded and dead, which British accepted.1 RecommendationLink

2 days ago

Kiranpal Sohi wrote:

ick1 Recommendation

Link

2 days ago

Wayne Schroeder wrote:

The difference between this review by Roberts and the review in the New York Times by Ward (March 24) is telling. Ward has reflected the true engagement of the author Lelyveld with the historical Gandhi and reported what Lelyveld’s intent was in writing the biography. Roberts clearly has a different intent/agenda with his reporting of Lelyveld’s biography–which is to point out the idiosyncracies of Gandhi as the main story and to leave out the purpose and core of Lelyveld’s work. It is a free country, but for a reporter to abuse a “review” to denigrate the subject in a way never intended by the author is unprofessional, unethical, and in very poor taste. Very sad. Context is foundational in the written word and in history alike. Mr. Roberts, at least have the chutzpah to tell us what you are doing.2 Recommendations

Link

2 days agoHugo Cunningham replied:

>Mr. Roberts, at least have the chutzpah to tell us what you are doing.

You picked the wrong “c” word out of your dictionary. “Chutzpah” means “effrontery”– shamelessly asking for something you do not deserve– “gall,” or “hypocrisy.”Maybe you had in mind “honesty,” “courage,” or, for ethnic flavor, “cojones.”

1 RecommendationLink

13 hours agoNat Ramachandran replied:

Bingo Wayne! You echoed my thoughts verbatim.

I read the review in The Times and have made up my mind to buy the book.

I read this review and had to rationalize why Andrew Roberts might want to write this gibberish.

Well articulated.RecommendLink

2 days ago

PIYUSH DHANUKA wrote:

Here is the natural truth;

Non-violence does not win anyone freedom. It is the violent opposition, or at least the clear capability and threat of violence, that forces any tyrant to quit. Rulers prefer to talk with the non-violent people and hand over the power to them. This makes it look like that non-violence won the day.

Love and forgiveness are not enough to protect a nation. Love is a good thing in a small group of people but this can not be extrapolated to large masses.

This paradox is responsible for the failure of Utopian ideas like non-violence and socialism in a big society.

The lack of this understanding, delays freedom and breeds more violence later. In socialism’s case, this causes more inequality eventually.

2 Recommendations

Link

1 day agoPIYUSH DHANUKA replied:

Vow! There goes your pacfism. You only prove what many believe, that most of the pacifists are actually hypocritesRecommendLink

1 day agoJitesh Ramanathu replied:

There are so many violent movements that have failed, and so many non-violent movements that have succeeded. It is possible to love humanity, just like the way you love yourselves. Don’t try to force your opinion on others, as it is some kind of wisdom of life.1 RecommendationLink

1 day agoPIYUSH DHANUKA replied:

I am just commenting, not forcing my opinion. I do not have that power. Gandhi did force his opinion on India (by threats of fast unto death or by misusing his countrymen’s blind faith in him)RecommendLink

2 days ago

Vikas Mehrotra wrote:

Check out Roberts record as a Tory historian, in particular his speech at the Springbok Club. Gotta give him credit for being unaware of the club’s racist leanings. Roberts is also on record defending the Amritsar massacre under British Rule on the grounds that it prevented further revolts, presumably because it taught a strong lesson to mutinous wannabes. Any surprise then that his views on Gandhi are what they are?2 Recommendations

Link

2 days agoPIYUSH DHANUKA replied:

No doubts that Roberts may be biased but he is not important. Indians need to question their own beliefs.1 RecommendationLink

1 day agoHarsh Agarwala replied:

Introspection is a way of life for Hindus. Here is an excerpt on Hinduism from a source you have quoted earlier:

The ultimate goal of life, referred to as moksha, nirvana or samadhi, is understood in several different ways: as the realization of one’s union with God; as the realization of one’s eternal relationship with God; realization of the unity of all existence; perfect unselfishness and knowledge of the Self; as the attainment of perfect mental peace; and as detachment from worldly desires. Such realization liberates one from samsara and ends the cycle of rebirth.[92][93] Due to belief in the indestructibility of the soul,[94] death is deemed insignificant with respect to the cosmic self.[95] Thence, a person who has no desire or ambition left and no responsibilities remaining in life or one affected by a terminal disease may embrace death by Prayopavesa.[96]

There can be no realization without introspection and questioning. Gandhi might not have been perfect but he was definitely a better human being compared to a lot of his peers.RecommendLink

21 hours agoNeil Bandari replied:

Jeevan, you do not speak for other Indians with this attitude. Dhanuka is expressing his views, and he is well entitled to do so.RecommendLink

2 days agoRomesh Chander replied:

Vikas:

Probably Mr Andrew Roberts defends Tiannamen Square massacre by China? No further important uprisings of people in China. Probably, he should defend killings by Qaddaffi to prevent further bloodshed in Libya. Same situation in Mexico in 1960′s (massacre of students by Mexican military) and British killings of Irish in Northern Ireland in 1970′s.1 RecommendationLink

2 days ago

PIYUSH DHANUKA wrote:

Gandhi may be good or bad in several ways and I don’t care much about that. But insisting that we overlook his faults because he gave us independence is the problem.

Every Indian is fed a steady diet of Gandhi worship since early childhood. India’s history books, school curriculum, TV, movies are full of that. This was specially true before the emergence of internet and cable TVs. Any political criticism of Gandhi (and Nehru family) was suppressed by the propaganda machine. Nehru’s book would only give you a biased opinion of Gandhi.

Gandhi did contribute to India’s freedom but Indians have been taught to neglect the contribution of every other person or force. Indians’ religion teaches them to worship blindly. Because of this propaganda that Gandhi gave them independence, they have been happy to worship Gandhi as Demi-God. That is the real problem

Couple of examnples of how Gandhi did not care about India’s freedom and failed India:

1. Until 1920s, Gandhi wanted only a semi-autonomous state for India. He changed only after other revolutionaries insisted on total freedom.2. He stopped agitation several times between 1920s and 19473. He did nothing to support any revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh.4. He forced Bose out of Congress leadership5. He allowed India’s partition. WHY DID HE NOT START A FAST TO PREVENT PARTITION?

For him, his own philosophy and his own image was more important than India. That is the truth which has been suppressed

.It is time to wake up and question your own beliefs.1 Recommendation

Link

2 days agoCharles Kasakophski replied:

You’re pathetic. If you were a citizen of the United States you would be whining and complaining about Lincoln and Washington. If you were English you would be lying about Churchill or even William the Conqueror. A person like you would be a burden and dishonorable disgrace in any nationality or culture.2 RecommendationsLink

2 days agoPIYUSH DHANUKA replied:

Personal attacks and complete loss of direction or logic in your comments!RecommendLink

2 days agoJeevan Anand replied:

You are too shallow of a man to deal with.1 RecommendationLink

1 day agoPIYUSH DHANUKA replied:

Personal attacks and complete loss of direction or logic in your comments!

RecommendLink

13 hours agoNat Ramachandran replied:

PK – You raise valid points for which we can hold a decent discussion.

I am hardly interested in personal failings of an individual whether they self gratified themselves or if they slept with nude concubines (as St. Augustine did) to test their erective capabilities.

I am glad you moved away from quoting Wikipedia on Gandhi’s sexual proclivities.

Let’s see how we can answer the issues you raised:“1. Until 1920s, Gandhi wanted only a semi-autonomous state for India. He changed only after other revolutionaries insisted on total freedom.”A valid complaint. You should know that the Indian National Congress was divided between the moderates led by Gokhale and the extremists led by Tilak. Gandhi was mentored by Gokhale and he prob. felt that “Poorna Swaraj” was too much at that point to ask from the Colonial powers. That in no way diminishes the man’s standing.

“2. He stopped agitation several times between 1920s and 1947″I don’t know if each and every tactical decision he (and the party made) can be held up to scrutiny. In any event, its like picking every moment when the stock of IBM dipped to show that IBM is a bad company.

“3. He did nothing to support any revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh.”Yes, because he had an aversion to the revolutionary methods of Bhagat Singh. He made it clear that his mode of action was non-violence. Bhagat Singh was definitely a solid patriot but you can fault Gandhi if thought Bhagat Singh was too much of a revolutionary for his taste and leanings. Again, too small a data point to judge a man of Gandhi’s stature.

“4. He forced Bose out of Congress leadership”That’s a complicated story. Bose, again, had pretty extreme ideas about how to achieve freedom. You should remember Gandhi put the force of the entire barrister/lawyer team from Congress to defend the final case of sedition brought against Bose and his INA by the English. Again, even if Gandhi forced Bose out of the leadership of Congress, its not enough to cast aspersion against the entire legacy of Gandhi.

“5. He allowed India’s partition. WHY DID HE NOT START A FAST TO PREVENT PARTITION?”India’s partition is too complex an idea. Gandhi was the last person to approve of partition; again only because he realized the insistence of the Muslim League had become too much and the violence was flaring too much. Incidentally, there were a couple of instances where he fasted to force the stoppage of Hindu-Muslim riots. In my judgment he did all that he could.

Lastly, you can’t pick on minute instances to downplay Gandhi. The man was beyond many things. He wasn’t a God or a Supra Soul. He was definitely beyond many of us.

An for this unwashed Tory hack (Andrew Roberts) to malign him is probably because his motherland lost to Sri Lanka in cricket recently and he is probably in need of money. So he wrote a gossipy column.

That’s it.RecommendLink

12 hours agoPIYUSH DHANUKA replied:

My reply:

1. You have already conceded this point. Just to add: Before 1920s, people like Saverkar, Lal-Bal-Pal and many others were clear about complete freedom. Savarkar said : Freedom is my birth-right.”

2. One episode can be called a mistake but pattern emerges that he held his own philosophy more important than the country. Any corporation’s CEO will be sacked for a single decision like that.

3. Again the pattern is that he held his own beliefs to be important than the country;s interest, especially when it was clear that the country followed him blindly.

4. This prove that he forced people to against their democratic rights as Bose was duly elected the president of Congress.

5. This is what kills me. Some leaders and majority of the people never approved partition. So he could not be the last one. To clarify, he never held any fast against the partition itself. He held a fast against Hindus’ killing Muslims (in India) , but broke the fast before riots in Pakistan stopped. Masses trusted his promise that he will never let partition happen. He had the power to hold fast to PREVENT partition, masses would have followed him. That may or may not have succeed, but he failed to do what he promised and professed – ” Satyagrah (Pleading for truth). Jesus could not prevent Roman brutality and violence, but he never flinched from his principles and died for them.

The last point is certainly not the instance. This is was the worst nightmare of modern Indian subcontinent, causing genocide, constant wars, and terrorism. Gandhi may be great philosopher with his good and bad, but why is is he above questioning? I do not have any interest in criticizing a dead man, except for the fact India’s present & future are still under its shadow.RecommendLink

3 days ago

Al Diallo wrote:

I do not want to admit this but I have a lot in common with Ghandi. There were times in my life when I hated a lot of stuff about this world and what’s in it. Later, I discovered that other people felt the same way about their family members, their neighbors and other countries.

The only thing that completely separates me from Ghandi–if this is true–is his unusual series of erection, his craving for a man, and his aversion to natural sex.

Al Diallo

Philadelphia3 Recommendations

Link

3 days agoNat Ramachandran replied:

Perhaps you can spell his name correctly to begin with.

” … but I have a lot in common with Ghandi”

Then how about heading to Libya or Syria or Bahrain and help those people be liberated from the shackles of their masters?

Talk is cheap.4 RecommendationsLink

3 days ago

Prasoon Joshi wrote:

This might come across as shocking. I think the problem is that we, as humans, do not like to think that another human is capable of much so we give the demi-God status to all achievers! And since Gods do not fail we expect too much!Recommend

Link

14 hours agoDaniela Arno replied:

The Brits should have allowed Japan to conquer India. The only reason Japan did not do so is because the Brits put the nut job Gandhi in jail and got on with fighting the Japanese.RecommendLink

13 hours agoNat Ramachandran replied:

Quite a lugubrious story, you have there.

The Brits wouldn’t have allowed Japan to conquer India because there was too much for the Brits at stake in India. Not for nothing the Brits called India the “Jewel in the Crown”.

“The only reason Japan did not do so is because the Brits put the nut job Gandhi in jail and got on with fighting the Japanese.”

Putting Gandhi in jail had nothing to do with the English’s capabilities to fight. In any event, the Japanese were defeated elsewhere and had to stop the plans to enter into India.

Better reasoning next time.RecommendLink

3 days ago

PIYUSH DHANUKA wrote:

?True or False? From Wikipedia:

“As part of these experiments, he initially slept with his women associates in the same room but at a distance. Afterwards he started to lie in the same bed with his women disciples and later took to sleeping naked alongside them.[83] According to Gandhi active-celibacy meant perfect self-control in the presence of the opposite sex. Gandhi conducted his experiments with a number of women such as Abha, the sixteen-year-old wife of his grandnephew Kanu Gandhi. Gandhi acknowledged “that this experiment is very dangerous indeed”, but thought “that it was capable of yielding great results”.[85] His nineteen-year-old grandniece, Manu Gandhi, too was part of his experiments. Gandhi had earlier written to her father, Jaisukhlal Gandhi, that Manu had started to share his bed so that he may “correct her sleeping posture”.[85] Gandhi saw himself as a mother to these women and would refer to Abha and Manu as “my walking sticks”3 Recommendations

Link

3 days agoNat Ramachandran replied:

So? OK. Gandhi was a sexual weirdo. So?

PK Dhanuka – You are again back to the tabloid gossip that shows a very shallow understanding of a man who transformed Indians’ thinking.

He was not a saint but he didn’t claim to be one either. He was confident, arrogant (at times) and stubborn. But all of those qualities in him helped to force a change in the English attitudes towards India, as well as Indian’s attitude towards fellow Indians (in aspects such as seeking religious unity, attempts towards eradicating untouchability etc.)3 RecommendationsLink

2 days agoPIYUSH DHANUKA replied:

Gandhi may be good or bad in several ways and I don’t care much about that. But insisting that we overlook his faults because he gave us independence is the problem.

Every Indian is fed a steady diet of Gandhi worship since early childhood. India’s history books, school curriculum, TV, movies are full of that. This was specially true before the emergence of internet and cable TVs. Any political criticism of Gandhi (and Nehru family) was suppressed by the propaganda machine. Nehru’s book would only give you a biased opinion of Gandhi.

Gandhi did contribute to India’s freedom but Indians have been taught to neglect the contribution of every other person or force. Indians’ religion teaches them to worship blindly. Because of this propaganda that Gandhi gave them independence, they have been happy to worship Gandhi as Demi-God. That is the real problem

Couple of examnples of how Gandhi did not care about India’s freedom and failed India:

1. Until 1920s, Gandhi wanted only a semi-autonomous state for India. He changed only after other revolutionaries insisted on total freedom.2. He stopped agitation several times between 1920s and 19473. He did nothing to support any revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh.4. He forced Bose out of Congress leadership5. He allowed India’s partition. WHY DID HE NOT START A FAST TO PREVENT PARTITION?

For him, his own philosophy and his own image was more important than India. That is the truth which has been suppressed

.It is time to wake up and question your own beliefs.3 RecommendationsLink

2 days agoHugo Cunningham replied:

46 minutes ago..P.K. DHANUKA replied:

[...]

>Couple of examnples of how Gandhi did not care about India’s freedom and failed India:

[...]

>4. He forced Bose out of Congress leadership

Gandhi showed good judgement of character there. You may recall Bose favorably as an ally of Japan in 1943-1945, but his first choice was working for Hitler (1940-1943). It is impossible to imagine a democratic India emerging from Hitler’s sponsorship.3 RecommendationsLink

14 hours agoDaniela Arno replied:

Sounds like Gandhi was a shrewish old maid.RecommendLink

2 days agoHoward Sontz replied:

The early Christian theologian, St Augustine, did the same thing almost two millennia before Gandhi. Augustine recounts in, I believe, his ‘City of God’, how, to prove that he had conquered the needs of the flesh, he used to lie in bed naked during the hot summer nights in his villa on the shores of the Mediterranean with his (former) concubine. It seems a hard-wired human concept that if we deny our sexuality, somehow our gods will love us more for it.He didn’t see fit to give up his opulent villa, however. Silly humans!2 RecommendationsLink

2 days agoLaura Kessler replied:

“somehow our gods will love us more for it”

More accurate is “somehow we will love God more”1 RecommendationLink

2 days agoJOSEPH NEMURI replied:

Gandhi – I love Christ but not a Christian . Is it true for some reason? is it same thinking prevails still by some westerners?2 RecommendationsLink

14 hours agoDaniela Arno replied:

Clearly St. Augustine was gay.RecommendLink

2 days agoJOSEPH NEMURI replied:

The best thing Gandhi did was he ousted Bose … I think he should have kicked him out of country too. Swastik attitude (Aryan creed) thought to be the main reason – Bose thought he would align with Hitler. If Japan invaded India, it would have been chaos.2 RecommendationsLink

1 day agoPIYUSH DHANUKA replied:

Bose was arue patriot who’s single-minded goal was India’s freedom (unlike Gandhi). He never supported Hitler or Japan’s genocide. He built Indian National Army wth whatever means he could, especially when Gandhi & Gandhians opposed that.2 RecommendationsLink

1 day agoJitesh Ramanathu replied:

Dhanuka,

You missed important points in the whole article. The very reason why Gandhiji was criticized during the world war was because, he decided to revolt against the British at such a crucial hour. He was somewhere in between Bose (totally aligning with the Japanese), and Jinnah (who was totally with the British). The author is clearly with Jinnah on this issue. Whose side are you?

Gandhiji was politically correct because he neither chose to side with the Japanese, who had just as much imperialistic ambitions as the British, and he revolted against the British, when he felt that they were moving away from the promise of granting Indian freedom. It was perfectly in the interest of the Indians.RecommendLink

2 days agoJeevan Anand replied:

You must be the the contributor to Wikipedia. looks like you grew up hating Gandhi ji.RecommendLink

1 day agoPIYUSH DHANUKA replied:

No, I am not the contributor to wikipedia; and I do no hate Gandhi. I just don’t think of hiim what he is been made out to be- a dmi-God. You can’t argue effectively and therefore must use personal attacks on me when you know nothing about me personally. Why can’t people handle any one questioning their demi-God?2 RecommendationsLink

21 hours agoNeil Bandari replied:

I certainly don’t think of Gandhi as a “demi-God”. But he was a great leader who accomplished amazing things for all of us. I doubt any of the people on here who defend Gandhi, do so because they view him as a demi-God. They do so out of a sense of obligation towards a dead man who cannot defend himself, and out of a sense of respect and awe and gratitude for what that man accomplished for them and their families.RecommendLink

21 hours agoNeil Bandari replied:

Dhanuka, unless your greatgranddaddy was Gandhi’s shrink, you have no clue, like me, about what Gandhi’s thinking on sexual matters truly was. So enough innuendos. I and many others believe Gandhi wanted absolute self-control and went to great extremes to search for it. Sure, its a bit creepy, and I wouldn’t do it, but I also am not the man who will bring down some great empire, or lead a seventh of the human race. Great people have their eccentricities, so be it.

By the way, only you know yourself the sickness of your own mind – introspect about your own fantasies and impluses for a second and see if you feel all clean and innocent enough to judge a dead man.1 RecommendationLink

20 hours agoPIYUSH DHANUKA replied:

You wrote against Jeevan attcking me personally in a comment below, but here your are using a personal attck with no basis. My Grandfather was not his shrink but you seem to be my shrink.

I am just a coomon man who has no personal hatred towards Gandhi. He did have somethings to learn from. My only objection is to India worshipping him due to a beibg brainwashed into believing that he single-handedly won the freedom. As you can see, I am risking my personal reputation and safety on this forum (see multiple comments from Jeevan) hoping that people will question their own belief systems that have they have been brainwashed into.

1 RecommendationLink

19 hours agoJeevan Anand replied:

Neil, Thanks. I totally agree that not everybody thinks of Mahatma Gandhi as a demi-God. I don’t feel you are attacking me. In fact we are on the same wave length. People like Gandhi Ji come in this world on rare occasions and transform the world into thinking a new way. Then there are those who act like they know everything and do nothing but criticize these great souls. Their goal appears to be to impress others with information, without ever realizing what is the impact of that information.1 RecommendationLink

3 days ago

PIYUSH DHANUKA wrote:

I know that Gandi’s children don’t rule India. Gandhi’s chose Nehru as his successor whose family still rules iNdia in Gandhis’ name.Recommend

Link

3 days agoNat Ramachandran replied:

So you are stating that Gandhi should have known (when he chose Nehru) that Nehru’s family would continue to occupy the ruling position in the post-Independence India? Answer: Gandhi was not a good enough visionary to guess who precisely will rule India, though he was a visionary to the extent that he wanted Indians to rule themselves.

Or, are you stating that Gandhi should have sought a written commitment from Nehru that none of his heirs and successors would rule India for a long time to come?

Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi are not ruling India in the name of Gandhi. Those names were the result of Indira Gandhi marrying a Parsi (Feroze Gandhi) whose last name was Gandhi. Neither Feroze nor Indira have any family relationship to Mohandas Gandhi. All of them claim the mantle of the Nehru family.

That their last names have a Gandhi has given rise to the misconception you stated: “family still rules iNdia in Gandhis’ name.”

I know of some people with last name as Reagan. I don’t think that they rule the US just because a man with a similar last name (Ronald Reagan) was once the president of the US.

Broaden thy argument and make it more substantive, not about names and nomenclature.RecommendLink

2 days agoPIYUSH DHANUKA replied:

Open your eyes Nat.

In 1937, Bose was elected Congress president. Gandhi had him forced out in favor of Nehru.

If he wanted, he could have insisted on stopping Partition , but did not as he went along with Nehru’s plan of ruling the country.

Nehru and his family established themselves as the torch-bearer of that name. Gandhi name and Gandhi worship has won them elections since independence. Poor Indian masses and intellectual socialist elites just love that name and philosophyRecommendLink

2 days agoHugo Cunningham replied:

>Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi are not ruling India in the name of Gandhi. Those names were the result of Indira Gandhi marrying a Parsi (Feroze Gandhi) whose last name was Gandhi.

I have long wondered if it was purely coincidence that Indira chose to marry someone with the surname “Gandhi”. Growing up immersed in politics, she would have been intelligent enough to foresee the political advantage, if the prospective groom was otherwise compatible.RecommendLink

3 days ago

PIYUSH DHANUKA wrote:

Nat, you are getting personal now. So much for your pacifism that you are blaming me to have something in it. This is a classical example of self-acclaimed morally superior people trying to assassinate others’ characters. As I said in my previous posts, I have no problems with Gandhi’s personal demons (as long as it did not include child abuse). My problem is with his selling out India’s future for his own ego and his cronies’ greed.Recommend

Link

3 days agoNat Ramachandran replied:

I have nothing personal in favor of your or against you. I am contesting your opinions and your reasoning.

It is true that this nostalgic Tory, Andrew Roberts, gets paid to write stuff that seeks a wider audience through salacious and gossipy shortcomings of an otherwise stellar individual.

“This is a classical example of self-acclaimed morally superior people trying to assassinate others’ characters.”

No, I neither consider myself to be morally superior or inferior; nor do I claim Gandhi was morally superior. He was practically and pragmatically superior.

If you really want to know what Gandhi’s coming did to India, you should read “Coming of Gandhi”, a chapter in Jawaharlal Nehru’s “Discovery of India”. I read it in my grade school and I know how Gandhi, the ultra alpha male, led an otherwise drowsy pack of Indians to rise up and how he packed courage into an otherwise docile population.

This washed out Tory is attempting to rewrite Gandhi by focusing on his sexual weirdness and inconsistencies. Gandhi precisely wanted to demonstrate–through his transparent acts and his concomitant failures–that he was a normal human and that his elevation (primarily by the Occidental world) into a “Mahatma” was stupid at best.

Remember, every saint has a past and every sinner has a future but this pathetic Tory should start writing for one of those gossipy tabloids that’s the hallmark of his homeland Britain.

Andrew Roberts should quit pretending to be a historian or even a half decent book reviewer.

He ain’t neither.1 RecommendationLink

21 hours agoNeil Bandari replied:

yea yeaRecommendLink

3 days ago

Nat Ramachandran wrote:

Such half-baked reviews and revisionist history are good navel gazing attempts to generate some buzz for the book. But that’s par for the course (I suspect the reviewer has a family to feed and needs to generate money).

Orwell gave a clean chit to this man. To me that’s all what matters.

Saint or not, Great Soul or normal soul, Gandhi was an ultimate alpha male who delivered for India. Megalomaniac or otherwise, I don’t give a rat’s patoot to his idiosyncrasies or his inconsistencies.

He could have been gay. So what? He lied naked with women. So what? He fought the Brits even as the Japanese were at the doors. So what? He tortured his own self and that of others. So what?

To think he must be compared to the slave-holding George (Washington) and inveighed is infantile.

Get over the man. Get his message (if you can). End of story. Class dismissed.2 Recommendations

Link

3 days agoPIYUSH DHANUKA replied:

Correction: Article says he lied naked with his niece. Wikipedia also says that he lied naked with minor girls so as to have natural heat and to experiment with Brahmacharya (celibacy). I don’t know the truth for sure, but certainly can’t understand Indians condoning it. This hypocrisy is exactly what author is criticizing.

Gandhi getting India’s freedom has been the opium for Indian masses. Time to wake up!2 RecommendationsLink

3 days agoNat Ramachandran replied:

Which Indian condoned the purported hypocrisy that you are talking about?

The guy who reviewed the book is a member of the “International Board of Weights and Measures” – now that’s some qualification to write about Gandhi.

Andrew Roberts is a nasty Tory and is wallowing at the loss of his fat-man Churchillian enterprise. Those days are over for England and is now reduced to a puny dot whose cricket team was massively brown washed by the, quelle horror, Sri Lankans!

“Gandhi getting India’s freedom has been the opium for Indian masses.” Can you elaborate instead of giving me a bumper sticker statement?1 RecommendationLink

That’s the kind of navel gazing that Andrew Roberts too is involved in.

Much like a mercenary, he gets paid to do such muckraking. What’s in it for you?RecommendLink

3 days agoPIYUSH DHANUKA replied:

You just condoned his behavior in your previous post but that is not the issue at all. I have no personal problem with anyone’s character as long as it is legal.

To elaborate my comment, you can see my previous comment above. To summarize how India got its freedom:

After WWII, weak and bankrupt UK was not in a position to hold on to its biggest colony when US became the biggest superpower, especially when USA did not colonize any country (not even japan and Germany). That is how most of previous colonies got their freedom sooner or later.RecommendLink

3 days agoNat Ramachandran replied:

You are misrepresenting my position. I didn’t condone: I just didn’t (and still don’t) care about Gandhi’s sexual weirdness (i.e., him being a potential closet gay) or his inconsistent message (not treating South African blacks on par with immigrant Indians) or about the shortcomings of his primary motives (e.g. removal of untouchability).

That is a shallow understanding of Gandhi. That’s what makes this fellow’s review repugnant and quite infantile.

“After WWII, weak and bankrupt UK was not in a position to hold on to its biggest colony when US became the biggest superpower, especially when USA did not colonize any country (not even japan and Germany). That is how most of previous colonies got their freedom sooner or later.”

That is a gratuitous opinion of the English. They figured the jig (i.e., the moral, economic and political rationale for holding on to the future of millions of Indians through military force and moral pretense) was up and that’s why they had to leave, not because of lack of money in their pockets.

They didn’t need much money from the homeland to hold on to the Indian dominion: in-fact they were leeching from the dominion and forcing their homegrown textile industry’s outputs on to India.

English bankruptcy after WW-II might have accelerated their exit from India but was not the sole reason. The Indian independence movement led by Gandhi had a strongly consequential role in pushing the Colonizers into the grimy Thames river.RecommendLink

21 hours agoNeil Bandari replied:

Nat, you are awesome, love your posts mateRecommendLink

3 days agoScott Morris wrote:

I must say that this may be the most bizarre “book review” I have ever seen. What’s clear is that Mr. Roberts had some serious personall issues with both Mr. Gahndi and homosexuality. I learned nothing about the book only that Mr. Roberts has a fascination with what others do with their rectums. What’s clear is that Mr. Roberts seeks to deny Ghandis role in the history of India and to reject nonviolence as a method of political change. Like many conservatives Mr. Roberts sees the world in polar terms. Either Gahndi was a sinner or a saint. He wants the reader to know that Gahndi was a sinner and therefore unworthy of praise or emulation. Unfortunately for Mr. Roberts and his ilk Gahndi’s legend will live on long after the dozen or so people who remember Mr. Roberts are long dead.3 RecommendationsLink

3 days agoHugo Cunningham wrote:

Gandhi’s subsistence-level economics were unworkable, as was his pacifism, but he is responsible more than any other individual for India being democratic. India’s democracy is frustrating at times, prone to corruption and inefficiency, but dictatorship is also quite consistent with corruption (see Africa) and/or wasteful military adventurism (see the Middle East).

A chutzpah award is due the many foreigners who lectured India for failing to adhere to Gandhian pacifism, when their own countries were not pacifist either.RecommendLink

3 days agoNat Ramachandran replied:

“Gandhi’s subsistence-level economics were unworkable, as was his pacifism, “

Right about the former and wrong about the latter. Pacifism worked in freeing India from the Colonists. And when it didn’t work – Chauri Chaura violence – Gandhi made it work.RecommendLink

3 days agoPIYUSH DHANUKA wrote:

One has to remember that Gokhle recruited Gandhi to lead Indian National Congress, an organization established by British people to work as a safety-valve. INC and Gandhi only wanted a limited autonomy under British rule until 1920s when other freedom fighters insisted on “Complete Freedom’.

Gandhi desired to be loved and worshiped, and was happy to don the mantle of “Mahatma (Great Soul”) in a religious country. JL Nehru (promoted by rich father, Motilal Nehru) was his high priest. Other politicians and elites of India benefited from this nexus; and propagated an industry around it. People were brainwashed using pre-existing Vaishnava principles of Ramraj, vegetarianism, and non-violence.

Gandhi never tried to save freedom-fighters like Bhagat Singh from being hanged. He personally made sure that a democratically elected Subhash Chandra Bose could not become Congress president and Nehru became the Congress president. British rulers loved this self-destructive streak of India; and ensured that every other potential political leader was killed, jailed in brutal Kala-Pani (unlike Congress leaders’ luxurious detention)), exiled or smeared.

In the post-WWII world, USA was the big brother and had no plans to militarily colonize any country (not even Germany or Japan). In such a system, it was impossible for the weakened England to hold on to their largest colony. This reality, combined with the revolution in Bombay, left British rulers no choice but to leave India. As their last act, they made sure that this great nation between Himalayas and Ocean stays splintered and weak under the rule of their cronies.

Gandhi had earlier declared that “partition will happen over my dead body” but feigned powerlessness at this critical juncture. He could have easily chosen to start a “Fast until Death” but he did not. He gets to be called the “Father of Nation” and every child is taught to virtually worship him until now.

This socio-political process led to a delayed Indian independence, splintering of Indian people in several pieces, a weak and corrupt post-independence country, and a virtual dynastic rule until this date. Gandhi’s personality problem or sexual deviancy is not important. The real problem is Gandhi’s socio-political philosophy that has dominated Indian subcontinent for last 100 years and continues to do so using his name leading to disastrous results.1 RecommendationLink

3 days agoNeil Bandari replied:

This “weak and corrupt” country is, just 60 years later (America has been independent 200+ years) fast being viewed as a “great power” in progress. “Gandhi’s socio-political philosophy has dominated the Indian subcontinent”? O boy, you are truly clueless about modern Indian economics and politics. Gandhi’s ideas for India died with him. He is now just a picture on the wall invoked 1-2 times a year.1 RecommendationLink

3 days agoPIYUSH DHANUKA replied:

Neil, you missed the point, Neil. Exploiting India’s respect for himself he made sure that only his few followers can rule India without caring for India’s true freedom and Indian people’s true benefit. This is the reason that Nehru-Gandhi dynasty still rules today.

You also contradict yourself about India’s progress. Economic progress of 1990s and 2000s has only happened after India got out of Gandhi-Nehru economic Model. Gandhi propagated a backward looking system rather than allowing adoption of newer technologies.

It is true that a billion people in a bountiful land have the potential to be great, but that requires security (external) and peace (internal). Security needs the capability and the readiness to use the force of violence. Peace requires unity. Gandhi’s non-violence crippled India’s resistance to British rule and any future external threat. His refusal to stand firm for united Indian subcontinent (by fasting or any mean necessary) led to partition’s violence and subsequent vicious cycle of hatred. That also led to constant wars and strife in the subcontinent.

Utopian ideas (like Non-violence) do not change the reality of Nature and a person”s insistence that the whole nation follows them, paradoxically leads to opposite effect of violence. We do not have to expect from Gandhi to have understood that paradox of nature, but certainly could expect from “Great Soul” to stand firm on his principles. Gandhi failed to that by not starting an Anshan (Fast Until Death) when India was being portioned. If he did that, he would have earned respect of his people for ever.1 RecommendationLink

3 days agoNat Ramachandran replied:

@ P. K. Dhanuka:

“Exploiting India’s respect for himself he made sure that only his few followers can rule India without caring for India’s true freedom and Indian people’s true benefit.”

In what sense did Gandhi not care for India’s true freedom and Indian people’s true benefit? Care to elaborate?

” This is the reason that Nehru-Gandhi dynasty still rules today.”

That’s a very appalling understanding of Gandhian legacy. Gandhi’s successors (e.g. Rajmohan Gandhi) are only remotely associated with ruling India, as they were members in the Parliament at one time or another.

To confuse Sonia Gandhi as Mohandas Gandhi’s heir is as Occidental as you can get.

Please get your facts lined up before attempting to be a contrarian.

2 RecommendationsLink

21 hours agoNeil Bandari replied:

Dhanuka, when your opponent has factories that can spread unemployment among your masses, when your opponent has military firepower you can never hope to match, when your own people are divided and coming out of centuries of rule by foreigners, Gandhi’s swaraj, self-sufficiency, handicrafts, nonviolent resistance model is a stroke of genius. It’s the power of ideas overcoming your physical weaknesses.

You may like to think that Bhagat Singh with a pistol or two, and Netaji with his alliance with the losing side of WW2, or Rani Jhansi with her sword, or a Mangal Pandey could have gotten you your current, shiny Indian passport. But its a fantasy. Britain losing India started the breakup of the British Empire. Gandhi defeated the greatest empire in the history of the world with his intelligence and ideas. He was much much much more clever than any of us on here. His was a whole new political paradigm – nonviolent, civil disobedience to effect revolutions without revenge. It’s a higher order of thinking that small minds will not comprehend. He tried and succeeded in uniting Indians, thats why we don’t have 15 mini-India’s today. The whole US civil rights movement, the whole anti-apartheid movement, the current middle east events, are all based on Gandhi’s model. He accomplished in history what Andrew the Reviewer and his entire set of ancestors and descendants across thousands of years will never do. Oh, and throw in a bunch of ingrates like you also, and your entire past, present and future clans.

Frankly, the ungrateful fools like you owe their entire lifestyle to him, so be a little grateful for him taking a bullet to his chest on your behalf. And for suffering the insults of ingrate fools 60+ years after his death.RecommendLink

17 hours agoPIYUSH DHANUKA replied:

Neil (or Jeevan or anyone else);

I understand that, because of your respect for Gandhi, you may find my critique offensive even though they are mot meant to be. You can call me all the names you want but I will avoid any name-calling. Just trying answering few questions I have posed on this forum. You don’t have to convince me but just question it for yourself. Let’s start with one:

Why did Gandhi not act on his promise to India that “patition will happen over my dead body”?

Gandhians blame other politicians for partition. Gandhi could have easily started an Anshan (Greast Fast) to prevent partition, and masses would have follwed him. He did not do that, and masses suddenly woke up to the reality of partition. Result was a genocide of both Hindus & Muslims and a forever state of war. People trusted him, worshiped him; and he failed the people of Indian subcontinent at their most critical moment.

RecommendLink

3 days agoPIYUSH DHANUKA wrote:

One has to remember that Gokhle recruited Gandhi to lead Indian National Congress, an organization established by British people to work as a safety-valve. INC and Gandhi only wanted a limited autonomy under British rule until 1920s when other freedom fighters insisted on “Complete Freedom’.

Gandhi desired to be loved and worshiped, and was happy to done the mantle of “Mahatma (Great Soul”) in a religious country. JL Nehru (promoted by rich father, Motilal Nehru) was his high priest. Other politicians and elites of India benefited from this nexus; and propagated an industry around it. People were brainwashed using pre-existing Vaishnava principles of Ramraj, vegetarianism, and non-violence.

Gandhi never tried to save freedom-fighters like Bhagat Singh from being hanged. He personally made sure that a democratically elected Subhash Chandra Bose could not become Congress president and Nehru became the Congress president. British rulers loved this self-destructive streak of India; and ensured that every other potential political leader was killed, jailed in brutal Kala-Pani (unlike Congress leaders’ luxurious detention)), exiled or smeared.

In the post-WWII world, USA was the big brother and had no plans to militarily colonize any country (not even Germany or Japan). In such a system, it was impossible for the weakened England to hold on to their largest colony. This reality, combined with the revolution in Bombay, left British rulers no choice but to leave India. As their last act, they made sure that this great nation between Himalayas and Ocean stays splintered and weak under the rule of their cronies.

Gandhi had earlier declared that “partition will happen over my dead body” but feigned powerlessness at this critical juncture. He could have easily chosen to start a “Fast until Death” but he did not. He gets to be called the “Father of Nation” and every child is taught to virtually worship him until now.

This socio-political process led to a delayed Indian independence, splintering of Indian people in several pieces, a weak and corrupt post-independence country, and a virtual dynastic rule until this date. Gandhi’s personality problem or sexual deviancy is not important. The real problem is Gandhi’s socio-political philosophy that has dominated Indian subcontinent for last 100 years and continues to do so using his name leading to disastrous results.5 RecommendationsLink

3 days agoThomas Huynh wrote:

Wow, there’s always two sides to every story.

Thomas Huynh, founderSonshi3 RecommendationsLink

3 days agoNeil Bandari replied:

Yep, the wise one, and the “lets libel a dead man so we can sell more books and make some money” one1 RecommendationLink

3 days agoNat Ramachandran replied:

One can manufacture ten sides for a story if one wants.

Andrew Roberts gets paid to indulge in salacious gossip and muckraking. I understand – the man must have a family to feed.1 RecommendationLink

3 days agoDave Bondy wrote:

Gandhi made a terrible mistake by not insisting that if Mohamed Jinnah wanted to divide India, then Pakistan should have been the home for all Muslims who at that time lived in India. It’s only fair to demand that the concept of two states for two peoples means one state for Muslims and the other one for Hindus. In fact Muslims have a claim to three countries; Pakistan, Bangladesh and India too.2 RecommendationsLink

3 days agoCharles Kasakophski replied:

History happened; in the exact opposite way as you described. Gandhi’s sage advise was ignored and the new states of India and Pakistan did exactly what you said they should have done but denied they did. The results were the death of millions on both sides as Hindus and Muslims fled each newly carved out country to get to “their” country, thru bloodthirsty fanatics in both lands looking for the largest body count of their religious enemy.3 RecommendationsLink

Dave, what bs. India and Indians are proud of our secular nation, just as much as America and Americans are proud of it. Of course, its a work in progress, but to say India would have been better off with a Hindu identity is anti-thetical to the very idea of India.1 RecommendationLink

3 days agoRomesh Chander replied:

Neil:

Get real. Secularism was thrust upon India; it was the only way to keep peace and keep the country together. No, India is not proud of its secularism; just have no other choice without tearing the country apart.1 RecommendationLink

3 days agoJohn Shniper wrote:

One really significant aspect of Gandhi’s teaching which are NOT addressed is his thorough going anti-modernism and opposition to uplifting of India’s indescribably destitute masses by the vigorousintroduction of industrialization and mechanization and transformation of the conditions of life in India.Gandhi even opposed textile mills much less steel mills”Machinery is the chief symbol of modern civilization; it represents a great sin” His attitudes towards free enterprise and the profit motive were reluctant and limited tolerance at best:http://www.swaraj.org/interpreting.htm#top1 These questionable attitudes had a profound effect on making India the great laggard in economic development for two generations after his death. Greatness if uncritically viewed can block beneficial developments just as effectively as it can advance them.8 RecommendationsLink

3 days agoRomesh Chander replied:

John:

It does not matter. Gandhi may have opposed industrialization, but after his assasination, nobody paid any attention to his ideas. India tried to industrialize after 1950s, but botched it for ideological reasons which has nothing to do with Gandhi.4 RecommendationsLink

3 days agoJohn Shniper replied:

Who created and promoted the bad ideology and gave it such reactionary staying power? Caste and other divsions were important in factors in India’s tragic lost generations of economic opportunity. But Gandhi’s questionable legacy certainly was an important factor in justifying the worst policies and attitudes against transformation into a modern, unitary, rule of law and individual rights based state. His legacy gave caste,socialist and tribal reactionaries a Saintly Paragon to justify rejecting America and even Japan as models.2 RecommendationsLink

1 day agoHarsh Agarwala replied:

Any action or policy needs to be evaluated in the context of its environment of prevailing economic, social and political realities. Gandhi opposed industrialization stringently because he believed in the socialist ideal of protecting the common masses from capitalist exploitation.

In the first half of the last century, India itself had limited capital and access to resources as such rapid industrialization would have disproportionately benefited the feudal landlords as well as sellers of technology. Rapid industrialization in the absence of a domestically capable middle class can lead to sharp discrepancies in income distribution and fuel social discord. Look at Sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East, Pakistan and even the tribal belt of India as examples. All these societies show improvement in GDP/capita indices but social unrest seems to be on the rise. Given the benefit of hindsight, Gandhi should actually be called a visionary for opposing rapid industrialization when he did.

Frankly i believe that his compulsions were more political than socio-economic. Gandhi focused on developing cottage industries in order to ensure income security and self-reliance for the poorest of people (numbering a few hundred million). The swadeshi movement has its roots in the widespread discontent of Indian weavers who were being driven out of business by cheaper cloth imports from the UK, not unlike Chinese exports to the US currently.

Now before you jump to conclusions, i would like to clearly state that i am a capitalist running my own company and a policy similar to Gandhi’s in the current era would be economic suicide!RecommendLink

1 day agoJohn Shniper replied:

You certainly know more about your own country than I ever will. I have to defer to your betterinformed personal knowledge of actual Indian conditions. However, I am puzzled by an apparent inconsistency in your statements. You state: ” I would like to clearly state that I am a capitalist running my own company and a policy similar to Gandhi’s in the current era would be economic suicide” If Gandhi’s economic views are absurd today, why were they visionary in 1947? Did something in the past 63 years make modern industry and agriculture and commerce more desirable for the masses of India?RecommendLink

1 day agoHarsh Agarwala replied:

There is no inconsistency! Time can effect a lot of changes which makes course correction and recalibration a necessity. It is foolhardy to be dogmatic in the face of changing ground realities.Some of the changes over the last century include:

The real question is whether Gandhi’s economic legacy was positive or negative overall for India in the decades after his death. Soviet style 5 years plans and centralized “license Raj” dictates were the last thing India needed but that is what it got until the demise of the Soviet Union. See:http://eternian.wordpress.com/2010/02/20/failed-state-india. The only thing which kept India from plunging into more collectivist absurdity (think Mao or Stalin) was the mighty conservative force of India’s caste system. Maybe Gandhi got it right in seeing the caste system as something to be reformed gradually.RecommendLink

10 hours agoHarsh Agarwala replied:

It was Nehru and not Gandhi who shaped India’s policies in the first two decades after independence so any bouquets or brickbats should be thrown in his face and not Gandhi’s.

As far as the efficacy of 5 year plans immediately post Independence go, the jury is still out on that one and far more erudite economists are debating the matter. One thing is for certain though that Nehru’s daughter Indira should have limited the scope of, if not done away completely with archaic 5 year plans during her tenure.Surprisingly the Indian Government has a planning commission which still formulates these plans.RecommendLink

3 days agoNisarg Kamdar wrote:

re@?rd.or as Jonathan shamin puts it the poor mans nial Ferguson.obviously has some old score to settle.same old British arrogance.its their birth right to preside over an imperial rule.stop peddling gossip or dope about Gandhi.try spending some time resurrecting the kingdom of sorrows Britain which now is even deeper despair.very easy for you to sit in your armchair and malign dead people just for some cheap publicity.littlejohn of the daily liar must be your best mate.and yes thanks to the British.without them we would never have survived.they are the true saviour’s of this rubbish country India’s.why highlight the fact that it was the Indian infantry which fought at the frontline while the British sat chalkin out the strategies in cosy comforts of their sofa.have some mercy my British lords.never mind that Cameron comes begging to India for some jobs and investment.a trivial Indian slave,forever in the service of lord Pi?@ock1 RecommendationLink

3 days agoNisarg Kamdar wrote:

re@?rd.or as Jonathan shamin puts it the poor mans nial Ferguson.obviously has some old score to settle.same old British arrogance.its their birth right to preside over an imperial rule.stop peddling gossip or dope about Gandhi.try spending some time resurrecting the kingdom of sorrows Britain which now is even deeper despair.very easy for you to sit in your armchair and malign dead people just for some cheap publicity.littlejohn of the daily liar must be your best mate.and yes thanks to the British.without them we would never have survived.they are the true saviour’s of this rubbish country India’s.why highlight the fact that it was the Indian infantry which fought at the frontline while the British sat chalkin out the strategies in cosy comforts of their sofa.have some mercy my British lords.never mind that Cameron comes begging to India for some jobs and investment.a trivial Indian slave,forever in the service of lord Pi?@ock1 RecommendationLink

3 days agoRomesh Chander wrote:

I pay attention to Gandhi’s ideas and his methodologies (their successes and failures), not his personal ideosyncracies. Gandhi as an individual is not as important as are his ideas. Don’t consider his methodologies as a cookbook for actions; there is no cookbook, period; you adopt methodolgies by analysing the situation on hand (and analysing your own strengths and weaknesses, as well as of those of your enemies).

2 RecommendationsLink

3 days agoAsh Patil wrote:

As an Indian, I know what Gandhi really stands for and am shocked by this really disturbing and disgraceful book about Gandhi. whether these are ‘facts’ or ‘fiction’, only the author knows. we know he was human and nobody worshiped him as ‘demi-God’, it were his principles , that most of the world respects.What a shame, that in these times of violence and unrest in the world, WSJ chose to publish this article slandering Gandhi for all that he stood for: Non Violence.what better can you expect from the right wing leaning WSJ fanatics?1 RecommendationLink

2 days agoCharles Kasakophski replied:

Well said.RecommendLink

3 days agoAsh Patil wrote:

As an Indian, I know what Gandhi really stands for and am shocked by this really disturbing and disgraceful book about Gandhi. whether these are ‘facts’ or ‘fiction’, only the author knows. we know he was human and nobody worshiped him as ‘demi-God’, it were his principles , that most of the world respects.What a shame, that in these times of violence and unrest in the world, WSJ chose to publish this article slandering Gandhi for all that he stood for: Non Violence.what better can you expect from the right wing leaning WSJ fanatics?6 RecommendationsLink

3 days agoCharles Kasakophski replied:

I’ve read several books about Gandhi. The one advertised here sounds as worthless and culturally suicidal as the even more worthless article accompanying it. Gandhi was one of the few people of true greatness in the 20th century. If people choose to rewrite history and reduce great people to the kind of garbage in this article, than you have nothing left to strive for, admire or grow towards. All great people weren’t perfect but exaggerating their quirks to make it look like all history was a failure is self defeating. This isn’t about right wing or left wing, this is about humans saying their species has no value or hope.3 RecommendationsLink

3 days agoNeil Bandari replied:

Completely agree, as if you took the words from my mouth. It is easy to slander a famous dead icon to sell a few books and make a little money, but its a shameful small deed. I am also amazed at the poor quality of people who post on this board. Bigoted, narrow-minded, foolish, many other such words come to mind. It’s such a pleasure when the wise ones speak up and bring some sanity and balance.

Before you write the book of (I wrote Andrew the WSJ reviewer off), read the other review in NYT. Much more balanced and civil.5 RecommendationsLink

3 days agoCharles Kasakophski replied:

(reply to Neil Vandari) Your comments on this site are by far the wisest ones I’ve read in some time. Thanks for contributing; reading your comments lets us know there are still readers who’ve moved beyond cynicism and bitterness in their lives.RecommendLink

3 days agoJIM PERSAUD wrote:

What the????2 RecommendationsLink

3 days agoWilliam Drose wrote:

And I don’t ascribe any ‘Great Soul” to Gandhi, he was a human being.

Does anybody really worship him like God, or a god??

I don’t think any person really worships any other person, if you think about, not from the heart. Or maybe when they’re young and it’s a boy or girl, then worship gets confused with love.

But a person walking along doesn’t easily worship other persons, however esteemed. Not likely to happen.

And I’m not anti West but some of the rhetoric both in the article and in these posts reveals just why Gandhi prevailed and also, why he took the tack he did. If the opponent is large and loud, be small and quiet.

This is not an argument for either his character or politics, but an observation about strategy.3 RecommendationsLink

3 days agoNeil Bandari replied:

Wise words, William. Thanks for sharing.1 RecommendationLink

3 days agoRomesh Chander wrote:

Please read Geoffrey C. Ward’s review that appeared on March 24 in the New York Times.

How 2 reviews of the same book in 2 different publications could be so different? It simply means what each other wants to empahsize (or his/her preudices), as well as the prejudices of their publications. WSJ rarely (if ever) had any good words for India since the day I have been reading it (and that is over 30 years now).

I think WSJ should stick to money matters, not sociology or politics.

2 RecommendationsLink

3 days agoThomas Stanley replied:

Romesh, you are specifically, emphatically and measurably WRONG. The WSJ is typically quite balanced, but I would say that its coverage of India in recent years has actually been quite favorable. Sorry the review found your hero Gandhi less than virtuous. Don’t blame the messenger. And FYI, if you take the NYTimes review to be the standard against which all reviews should be based, you are seriously, sadly mistaken, my friend. You might consider getting that online subscription now that they have decided to (gasp) charge all their readers for online subscriptions.1 RecommendationLink

3 days agoRomesh Chander replied:

Thomas:

Yes, you find recent coverage of India by WSJ as quite favourable, simply because it deals with money and it is good for American business. Otherwise, over a longer period (30 years I am talking about), its coverage was quite political and negative (when India was sort of socialist). WSJ understands only one thing, and that is $$$ for USA (and nothing for the developing world).2 RecommendationsLink

13 hours agoNat Ramachandran replied:

Eloquently stated. Ward’s review (I read it twice after I read this idiot and it is remarkably different and made me plan to buy the book.)

I love the WSJ 95-97% of the time. It gives space for a good polemical viewpoint, most of which typically goes unpublished elsewhere. I love it (particularly the Editorial).

Except when its written by ‘I-had-one-class-in-history’ half-butt unwashed Tory like Andrew Roberts.

Seriously Good article, This will enlighten people about the truth of gandhi’s politics.5 RecommendationsLink

3 days agoNeil Bandari replied:

You mean the opinions of those who disagree with Gandhi’s ideas? Don’t call it “truth”. Thats a loaded word.2 RecommendationsLink

3 days agoPierce deWah wrote:

FINALLY… someone has the courage to tell the truth about the crook Gandhi.

Gandhi was a marketing machine. His image, his demeanor, his style, were all choreographed to appeal to the masses.His publicists in turn presented him as the “Great Soul” when he was nothing more than a mediocre lawyer turned political activist who milked the Quit India movement bandwagon as much as he could.

Real statesmen who fought for India in wars, that wrote and implemented legislation to help the poor Indian farmers, that visited with troops fighting the scoundrel Nazis, that were on the forefront of the world political arena are long forgotten. For supporting the War Effort, men like Sikander Hyat-Khan (Premier Punjab 1935-1942) are labeled as “toadys” of the British, and the Gandhis are referred to as the “Great Souls,” the “Jinnahs” who broke up India for their personal gain are referred to as the “Great Leader (Quaid-e-Azam).” The Gandhis, Jinnahs of India were charlatans. They hurt India and contributed more towards hurting the people of India than helping. The “Hyats,” the real founding fathers and proponents or Hindu-Muslim-Sikh unity, have been either erased or had their roles minimalised in history books by the ‘toadys’ of Gandhi’s India and Jinnah’s Pakistan.

Below excerpt from letter to Jinnah from Sikander that speaks for itself:

“We are faced with a situation fraught with grave and imminent danger to the safety of our country. The menace from the east is rapidly approaching our borders, and is growing in volume. The threat from the west and north-west has momentarily receded, thanks to the valiant resistance put up by the Russians, but it may reappear at any moment, and perhaps in a more aggravated form, as a result of the anticipated Nazi attempt to break through Turkey, and French North Africa. My views on the war effort are well known to you and the members of the Working Committee. You are aware that I have from the very outset of this war pleaded for a policy of whole-hearted and unconditional support, because it is my fixed conviction that bringing this war to a successful conclusion is of vital importance to India, and the Muslims throughout the world, as it is to Great Britain. Recent developments on our eastern frontiers have only helped to strengthen that conviction it is equally true that by withholding our support at this critical juncture we will be jeopardizing the safety of our country as also of our neighbours among other of Burma, Dutch East Indies, and Malaya in the east, and Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Palestine, Turkey, and Egypt in the west. If God forbid, the Nazis and Japanese succeed in this war all our political aspirations, and ambitions of a free and equal partnership, will be frustrated for good. The fate of ninety million Muslims in this country and of an equal or even greater number elsewhere, together with 300 million of our non-Muslim countrymen, and a multitude of nations outside India is in the balance. It ill-becomes a Muslim to waver or hesitate when the whole world is in the throes of a life and death struggle and even the slightest weight on one side or the other may tilt the balance in our favor or against us. If India survives, and it can only survive if Great Britain survives, there will be time enough after the war to press our demands. At the moment all our energies and resources must be devoted, exclusively, to save India, and ourselves, from enslavement by the Japanese and Nazis.”

Excellent job Mr. Roberts (I’ll be the first one to buy your book)…and a standing ovation for Mr. Lelyveld.12 RecommendationsLink

3 days agoRomesh Chander replied:

Pierce:

How much money did this crook Gandhi made? And how much money respected bankers like Morgan, Chase, Rothchild, Warburg, Mouzillo and others made? And everybody wants to be a Morgan, not a Gandhi or even a Mohammed Yunus (Grammen Bank, Bangladesh). Why?

I pay attention to Gandhi’s ideas and his methodologies (their successes and failures), not his personal ideosyncracies. Gandhi as an individual is not as important as are his ideas. Don’t consider his methodologies as a cookbook for actions; there is no cookbook, period; you adopt methodolgies by analysing the situation on hand (and analysing your own strengths and weaknesses, as well as of those of your enemies).7 RecommendationsLink

3 days agoPierce deWah replied:

Romesh:

Morgan, Chase, Rothschild, Warburg were capitalists – financiers, bankers and in the business of making money. What was Gandhi’s motivation?

Gandhis ‘ideas’ and his ‘methodologies’ were not ‘his.’ Principles or tenets of non-violence can be found in each of the major Indian religious traditions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism) as well as in the major Abrahamic religious traditions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam). The Chandogya Upanishad, which is part of the Upanishads, one of the principal scriptures of Hinduism that dates to the 8th or 7th century BCE, bars violence against “all creatures” (sarva-bhuta) and establishes nonviolence as a code of conduct for Hindus.

As a technique for social struggle, nonviolence has been described as “the politics of ordinary people,” reflecting its historically mass-based use by populations throughout the world and history. Perhaps the first instance of a nonviolent campaign in modern history, with major political impact, was the March 1 Movement in Korea, which was a catalyst for the establishment of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea in Shanghai in April 1919 and influenced nonviolent resistance in India and many other countries.

Indians and Pakistanis and peoples of all nations, would fare well through opening their minds and start questioning the ‘real’ contributions and achievements of their leaders than to deify personalities.

I suspect, in reading your recognition that “Gandhi as an individual is not as important as are his ideas,” Lelyveld rests his case. Well said.7 RecommendationsLink

3 days agoCharles Kasakophski replied:

(reply to Romesh Chander) A very good reply to a dreadfully toxic comment. Well said, Romesh.1 RecommendationLink

3 days agoRomesh Chander replied:

Pierce:

You did not understand my point. You called gandhi a crook; and crooks usually do things simply for self-aggrandisements, not for the benefit of others. And that is why I brought up the bankers (the really crooks who could care less for anybody else).

It is silly to find the concept of non-violence in religions. His concept of non-violence came from political readings of Rousseau, Thoreau; and he found it to be a practical concept for the weak people, and he went on modiftying it as time went on and he gained more and more experience in mobilizing people (and in the attitude of British). Non-violence was not developed in some sort of vacuum or in an ivory tower think tank Yes, use of religion helped in convincing people to the ‘correctness’ of methodology, simply because religion plays such an important part in the life of Indians.2 RecommendationsLink

3 days agoPIYUSH DHANUKA replied:

Indian religious psychology is congruent to believing that an avatar will deliver them from their tormentor. Gandhi’s actually crippled India’s resistance to British rule. He still gets credit to get the freedom for free by melting the British heart. This is the reason that Indians don’t value their own individual liberty as much as Americans do. That is why they have been been wasting their freedom as they would have if they shed their blood for it. Bose, on the other hand, was honest when he asked for the blood to get the freedom.2 RecommendationsLink

3 days agoPierce deWah replied:

Romesh:

Tellingly, the men that founded the organizations that you mentioned, fueled the engine of the US economy. They were financial geniuses. Can we earnestly say the same for Gandhi? What did he fuel? Hatred? Death? Partition of India? What did his politics of non-violence achieve in the end? A splintered India? Disunity at a religious level? A struggling economy?

It is equally ‘silly’ to believe that Gandhi was the ‘Great Soul.’ His ideas are sourced from elsewhere, so what else is left? His character was questionable as the article suggests. His politics achieved very little. Have Indians got no one else to deify?

1 RecommendationLink

3 days agoVivek Sundararaj wrote:

I have heard all these arguments before, having grown up in India, where it seems detractors of Gandhi are far more prevalent than in the west. Nevertheless, I feel at least 75% of the arguments are made with a disregard for or misunderstanding of the context (time and place) where Gandhi lived. I find it funny when someone says it would have been easy for 300million Indians to get rid of the small number of British rulers, because before Gandhi (and his other leaders) there was no such thing as India. The lasting legacy of Gandhi’s success is the fact that there is a country called India. It is no mean feat to unite millions of people who have so much differences and have fought with each other for centuries.2 RecommendationsLink

3 days agoPIYUSH DHANUKA replied:

This psychology led to India’s partition. Truth is that hardly any country of today existed in their current political form for more than 1-2 centuries. The Indian subcontinent, just like many other nations had shifting political borders and warring states. No invader from time memorial invaded one particular state of India. They always invaded “the people” of the Indian subcontinent.

Alexander to British, they all dreamed of robbing and ruling this vast nation between Himalayas and ocean. Borders and the rulers kept changing but the ordinary people of India kept living, trading, and moving in the entire subcontinent as one large nation despite of its diversity. To say otherwise has been a propaganda successfully propagated by British rulers. It was subsequently adopted by “Father of Nation” and people around him to claim the authority over India’s fate.

RecommendLink

3 days agoJohn OGrady wrote:

Wow, I am absolutely shocked by this. I was shocked by the truth about Mother Theresa, but this is even worse.3 RecommendationsLink

3 days agoNeil Bandari replied:

Don’t fall into some publisher’s trap and assume opinion and fiction as “truth”. All these guys have families to feed and controversy sells well. I could bring out a book saying George Washington was gay, anti-Semitic and had a black mother and an idiot market segment out there will lap it up and pay good money to boot. I’ll throw in a bunch of “research” claims on the back page, and gift a years supply of vaseline to Andrew The Book Reviewer @ WSJ and that should buy me a controversial review to help sell more.1 RecommendationLink

2 days agoSusan Quinn replied:

For anyone with even a tiny bit of understanding of the spiritual life, there was nothing shocking about Mother Teresa’s “dark nights of the soul.” The same kind of thing was experienced by many, many saints, including St. Teresa of Lisieux, the “Little Flower.” Catholics believe that the sense of abandonment by God in the dark night is analogically akin to what Christ experienced when he said, “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?” – i.e. that it is necessary to learn to walk by faith and NOT by “experiences” of God’s constant presence. The other St. Teresa, Teresa of Avila, would reply to the sisters in her order when they began talking about mystical experiences of the presence of God, “Sweep the floor and they’ll go away!”

As for the more scurrilous attacks on Mother Teresa -that she was a publicity hound or whatever, look at the source. And look at how she lived and where any money raised by such “publicity” went. Yes, I’ve read the insane attacks coming out of England, but again: look at the source and what THOSE people do with their lives. Finally, the utter contempt poured upon a woman for helping the suffering instead of joining a leftist group agitating for political revolution – sickening. As she herself said, others can handle the politics; she has dying people right in front of her eyes to love, so they have someone with them when they die.

But then, it is just like the left to reduce REAL PEOPLE to political ciphers or symbols – hence Obama wanting to kill babies that survive abortion – the very baby suffering in front of your eyes needs to continue to suffer, he believed, in order to make the political point that abortion is the greatest boon ever given humankind {See his actions on Illinois’ born-alive infant protection act, which he fought tooth and nail, though it was identical to one the federal government passed, and not even NARAL or Hilary Clinton made a peep).3 RecommendationsLink

4 days agoM Srinivasan wrote:

Instead of an honest review of the book, the reviewer has poured venom on Gandhi, of which he seems to be well endowed. Reminiscent of the character assassination of Gandhi that appeared many years ago in the Jewish magazine ‘Commentary’, it would seem that certain persons can never forgive Gandhi for his perceived lack of sympathy for the plight of the victims of Hitler. Gandhi can be forgiven for not knowing the full extent of Hitler’s evil and assuming all men are innately good. In spite of the attempted denigration, the fact remains that for millions all over the world Gandhi stands as a symbol of Goodness.For a real review of the book, please read Geoffrey C. Ward’s review that appeared on March 24 in the New York Times.4 RecommendationsLink

3 days agoJuhan Singha replied:

So you are saying that the Review is full of author’s opinions? And is not based on facts (such as Gandhi was gay and let massacre of Hindus go on and called Islam a religion of peace)?8 RecommendationsLink

3 days agoM Srinivasan replied:

Yes. Many claims of the reviewer are his own opinions and not based on ‘facts’. It is almost a Western disease to find non-existent evidence that many revered people were ‘gay’. If two men are friends, does it mean they are sexually involved? A relateda ‘fact’ that the reviewer gives is that Gandhi had ‘left his wife’ in 1908. Utter nonsense! Well, if you are a sewage inspector, you become immune to stink.3 RecommendationsLink

3 days agoRomesh Chander replied:

Mr Srinivasin:

How 2 reviews of the same book in 2 different publications could be so different? It simply means what each other wants to empahsize (or his/her preudices), as well as the prejudices of their publications. WSJ rarely (if ever) had any good words for India since the day I have been reading it (and that is over 30 years now).RecommendLink

3 days agoPIYUSH DHANUKA replied:

India needs an introspection. Weather WSJ is always good or bad does not matter.1 RecommendationLink

1 day agoHarsh Agarwala replied:

Well pointed out Mr. Srinivasan. I too was a little confused about this being a book review or an op-ed.Seems WSJ has adopted a novel approach to plug books a la Amy Chua’s tiger mom..1 RecommendationLink

4 days agoDeepak Seth wrote:

This book is an honest assessment of Gandhi. We can continue to fool ourselves, or believe in truth. British were good to India. Unlike Indian Rajas an Kings, who were bunch of psychopaths and retards. They raped India befor British.British gave India democracy, education, foundation of modern state. Stopped horrible crimes against women After about sixty, seventy years of self rule, we still see no infrastructure, but buildings from British time.Gandhi was a self promoter, ordinary Indians hated him. But Western intelluctals loved him.Congress and Nehru glorified him to give him, ” Father of Nation” . Even Nehru said ” Gandhi claims to be living in poverty, but it costs thousands of rupees to keep him in poverty “13 RecommendationsLink

3 days agoNeil Bandari replied:

Who will judge what is honest and dishonest? And will the dead man rise to defend his name? You guys are just a bunch of envious mud-rackers. Can’t do anything meaningful with your own lives, so want to spout off against a man who died 3 generations ago and happens to be one of the most studied historical figures ever. “British were good to India” “Ordinary Indians hated him” pulling nonsense out of deep holes, and anointing it fact when its just opinion.1 RecommendationLink

3 days agoPIYUSH DHANUKA replied:

Gandhi himself as a person is not the issue. Problem is that you want to insulate all his actions from any criticism.3 RecommendationsLink

1 day agoTenali Rama replied:

Deepak, that’s nonsense – the British were not good to india. Note:

“The arrival of East India Company in India ruined the Indian economy. There was a two-way depletion of resources. British used to buy raw materials from India at cheaper rates and finished goods were sold at higher than normal price in Indian markets. During this phase India’s share of world income declined from 22.3% in 1700 AD to 3.8% in 1952. ” (http://www.mapsofindia.com/india-economy.html) This is how a core/peripherry system works – you don’t colonize to be nice – you do that to suck resources away to the core.

The British did help curb cruel practices such as ‘sati.’ Gandhi and many other Indians also worked for this and women’s rights in general. There is history of such efforts in the 18th century (reference the work by the Swaminarayan sanstha to this extent.)

Although, to your point, monarchy was likely no boon throughout India (but there were at least some states that were ruled by fair kings), and a unified democracy did likely result due to the administrative, educational and political infrastructure that the British had set up.

Many ordinary Indians did hate Gandhi because he was stubborn in his views and many times didn’t see the other side’s perspective. He could have more accommodating, but he couldn’t have pleased everyone anyway. I like the way Donal Trump thinks about leadership – sometimes it’s okay for a leader to push through his/her vision, even if others fret. In any case, stubbon with a bamboo stick is better than stubborn with a few F-16′s, RPG’s etc a la Gaddafi : )

Post independence hindu rate of growh was indeed bad…but we can blame Nehru for the soviet style economy planning at the outset. Thankfully that is starting to change now, and will be noisy contentious and politically charged, and there is much for the Indians to get right, before a modern India emerges, but the British empire not needed for good results!

RecommendLink

4 days agojillian drallop wrote:

Less like George WashingtonMore like Michael Jackson5 RecommendationsLink

3 days agoPIYUSH DHANUKA replied:

That one line says a lot.That is why US and India are so different.RecommendLink

3 days agoJAMES MATLOCK replied:

The US and India are “so” different, but people in both countries still insist on making sweeping generalizatons about the other based on one or two frivolous remarks.1 RecommendationLink

3 days agoNat Ramachandran replied:

Jillian – Observant (yet bigoted) comment.

George held slaves. Gandhi (or should I write “Ghandi” for you?) less so.2 RecommendationsLink

4 days agoMICHAEL WALSH wrote:

That this megalomaniac continues to excite such awe long after his death is his greatest legacy. He was adept at pushing Britain’s buttons at a time when Britain was tired of empire. His timing, if nothing else about him, was impeccable.7 RecommendationsLink

3 days agoRomesh Chander replied:

Mr Walsh:

Nonsense. If Britain was tired of its Empire, why did Britain not leave in 1919, i.e., immediately after World war 1?. It was only in 1919 (after the Massacre in Amritsar), Gandhi got serious about kicking Britain out of India; before that he was for a Canada/NewZeland/UK type of relationship for India, not for Independence. If the Britsh were tired of Empire, when was that? In 1931, when Gandhi started his Salt March? Or When Gandhi was asked by British to come to London (in 1931 after the Salt March) for talks (which were a failure); when he returned from London, they put him in jail.

No, UK were never tired of their empire. It is only after WW2, when Britain was flat broke that it could not hold on to its Empire, that it saw the handwriting on the wall, it decided to liquidate the Empire (and leave Palestine to UN). If Churchill was in power in 1946, Britian still would have hung on to its Empire (even in 1947, Churchill was opposed to Independence).

Read some history, fellows.RecommendLink

3 days agoMICHAEL WALSH replied:

You make my point for me. And Gandhi was never really serious about anything but Gandhi. Why bother reading the little history you have if you refuse to learn anything from it?2 RecommendationsLink

4 days agoWilliam Drose wrote:

Since Ghandi won without firing a single shot, the West has no recourse but to issue him a sexual offender teeshirt.

No kidding. And the raised-eyebrow narration of the possibility that a human being might have been gay and even masturbated shows just how low this cesspool of a publication has sunk since Murdoch bought it.

Apparently, fiscal conservatives have come to find homophobia an integral part of their agenda. What pigs.2 RecommendationsLink

4 days agoRomesh Chander replied:

Michael:

And to extinguish Britsh Empire, Gandhi never fired a single shot. Only thing he carried with him was his bamboo stick, which he used solely for walking. Poor British (and Westerners), they never understood Gandhi and his tactics (and they still don’t understand him, which is fine with Indians). Poor Churchill; he refused to meet Gandhi; and guess, who lost? If Churchill had met him, I doubt, he would have understood him. After all, none of his Viceroys understood him, either; and every one of them was sent packing home to London in frustration. And Lord Wavell was summarily sacked.

5 RecommendationsLink

14 hours agoDaniela Arno replied:

The Brits couldn’t wait to get out of the squat toilet that was India. They were broke and India was a huge economic burden on them. Gandhi had very little or nothing to do with getting the Brits out of India.RecommendLink

3 days agoRomesh Chander replied:

Juhan:

It is nonsensical to say that Gandhi failed to protect Hindus from Muslims. What could he do other than plead to everybody (which he has been throughout his life). Did he exhort Hindus/Muslims to kill each other? Don’t blame Gandhi for all that. He had no power other than of persuation. Real world is different, and he could not change the real world (and which has not changed long after Gandhi’s assasination).2 RecommendationsLink

3 days agoNeil Bandari replied:

Juhan, you are one sick dude. Go visit a psychiatrist. You need help.4 RecommendationsLink

3 days agoJAMES MATLOCK replied:

That’s quite a lie, Michael. Big enough to even get some folks to believe it.

Ghandi “got rid of” the British Enpire by among other things, appealing to the conscience of the British public. He had a key insight to the British character and knew that he was up against a civilized British culture that had limits as to how far it would go with violence. if he’d faced Nazis or Soviet Communists for instance, What would have been the outcome there, do you suppose? Frankly, nobod would have ever heard of Gandhi. A quiet arrest, a bullet in the head in some cellar and an anonymous grave would have stopped Gandhi’s non-voilent movement. As it very likely did hundreds ot times to would-have-been Gandhi’s in Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia. That technique is still in use today in places like Iran, Yemem and Iibya, where any would-be oppostion leader would have to be suicidal in the exterme to try Gandhi’s method of nonviolence. Gandhi was exceedingly fortunate in having the British to oppose, and he knew it.5 RecommendationsLink

4 days agoChitra Murali wrote:

No Indian should buy this book2 RecommendationsLink

4 days agoRomesh Chander replied:

Chitra:

I agree. No Indian should waste his/her money on this book.

We know what Gandhi was; who cares what Westerners think? Gandhi was just another human being, like you and me; he had his strengths and his weaknesses, just like anybody else. He was not God, as some Westerners like to assume (and then try to prove that he was not). Gandhi was too complicated for a Westerner to understand.6 RecommendationsLink

4 days agoGerry Dail replied:

Oh, please, Mr. Chander. Ghandi was too complicated for a Westerner to understand? Your claim of such inscrutability in those born in India smacks of the same Inscrutability of those born in the “Middle Kingdom.” Humans are humans regardless of where in the world someone is born. Cultures are different, but at their core, Socrates and Confucius would likely find much in common.12 RecommendationsLink

3 days agoJuhan Singha replied:

I will buy it and I thank the author for his immense research and effort to get the truth.

There are two things that will bother conservative and backward Indians and Hindus (who are not much different than Muslims) in their treatment of gays and women.

Even I did not know that Gandhi was gay. This could cause riots in India. I knew about his liking for enema but now I know the “rest of the story”,

Secondly just like Obama, Bush and other bone headed leaders who see Muslims massacre non-Muslims and even Muslims every day but keep calling Islam a “religion of peace”. Gandhi was responsible for not stopping the massacre of Hindus in India and Pakistan. But he protected Muslims and today India is paying the price of constant Islamic terrorism and intolerance.11 RecommendationsLink

3 days agoJASON FRANK replied:

Collectivism, starvation and poverty that resulted from collectivism if not, however, even if your point is granted to you without debate. India is only just starting to recover from Gandhi’s failed policies now.5 RecommendationsLink

4 days agojillian drallop replied:

I’m sure that will make the truth go away.Perhaps you and Romesh should collaborate on a defending Ghandi video.Call Chris Crocker–

“In August 1942, with the Japanese at the gates of India, having captured most of Burma, Gandhi initiated a campaign designed to hinder the war effort and force the British to “Quit India.” Had the genocidal Tokyo regime captured northeastern India, as it almost certainly would have succeeded in doing without British troops to halt it,” – I highly doubt this since the Japanese was allied with INA of Netaji and therefore genocide would not have happened. Also, the British troops that halted the progress of Japanese were really Indian Soldiers who was lent to the British by the Indian princes when the British begged the Indian princes of independent states to help them win the war. The British would have never won the war if the Nepalese Gurkhas or the Punjabi Sikhs had not fought the Japanese on behalf of the British army.5 RecommendationsLink

4 days agoAlex Temenid replied:

Without Indian soldiers serving under the British flag, you’re right that India would probably have been overrun by the Japanese invaders. You’re wrong to think the Japanese would have been more magnanimous toward the Indians they conquered than they were toward Filipinos, Chinese, or any others who were subjugated by them.

You’re also wrong that the British (the Allies, really) would have lost the war. In fact, although there was much pitched combat, sacrifice, and bravery on the side of the Allied forces, the entire theater turned out to be basically rendered irrelevant by the naval war in the Pacific and the island hopping campaign that positioned the US to burn out the major Japanese cities and set the stage for what would have been an extraordinarily sanguinary invasion, had the atomic bombs not been developed and deployed before the invasion was launched.10 RecommendationsLink

2 days agoNANDEESH MADAPADI replied:

Alex: we will have to agree to disagree. The British (read Indian soldiers) won against the Japanese in Singapore and other SE Asian countries. It really was the Indian alliance, which helped Britain immensely in First World War and surely in Second World War. Without the Indian’s help, Britain would be too preoccupied in Europe/Germany and would have lost SE Asia. My Grandfather who was in South India was tasked with collecting food grains from the Indian farmers and delivering to the troops. Sadly, this was also done in Eastern India when Bengal underwent severe famine, so please spare me details of undermining Indian contribution to the British.2 RecommendationsLink

21 hours agoMichael Antebi replied:

Hello Gandi! Hello Dolly!

Isn’t this about the same man who praised Hitler during World War II? In May 1940 he said, “I do not consider Herr Hitler to be as bad as he is depicted. He is showing an ability that is amazing and he seems to be gaining his victories without much bloodshed.” He regretted that Hitler had employed war rather than non-violence to achieve his aims, but nonetheless averred that the Germans of the future “will honour Herr Hitler as a genius, a brave man, matchless organiser and much more”. (From “Indian Summer” by Alex von Tunzelman, Simon & Schuster Pub.)

Gandhi advised the Jews in Germany to pray for Hitler, “If even one Jew acted thus, he would save his self-respect and leave an example which, if it became infectious, would save the whole of Jewry and leave a rich heritage to mankind besides.”

Isn’t this the same man who took a different young woman to bed every night to test his moral will? Gandhi ‘tested’ himself by sleeping with naked grand-nieces Manu and Abha and others. (“Gandhi: Naked Ambition” published by Quercus, UK) I wonder how many abortions were done for the sake of India.

Isn’t this the type of non-violent, lecherous, political hypocrites of the earth who proclaim their sanctity while violating those of everybody else? Who knows what other damage he would have done to mankind if he was not assassinated?1 RecommendationLink

13 hours agoNat Ramachandran replied:

Have you heard of St. Augustine’s experiments with nude concubines?

Here’s something for your perusal: “At age 17, Augustine fell in love with a woman whom he never named. Although Augustine largely downplays the relationship in the Confessions, explaining that he was infatuated with the idea of romantic love and had no control of his lustful desires, it seems clear he loved her deeply. Unfortunately, however, he felt he could not marry her because she was of a lower social class.”

Just because of that, I wouldn’t downgrade the great thoughts that came from St. Augustine.

Your grasp of history is non-existent. Read some books and gain some reasoning skills before spouting venom.RecommendLink

Gandhi ‘left his wife to live with a male lover’ new book claims

By Daniel BatesLast updated at 1:02 AM on 28th March 2011

Comments (140)

Mahatma Gandhi was bisexual and left his wife to live with a German-Jewish bodybuilder, a controversial biography has claimed.

The leader of the Indian independence movement is said to have been deeply in love with Hermann Kallenbach.

He allegedly told him: ‘How completely you have taken possession of my body. This is slavery with a vengeance.’Lovers? Gandhi and Kallenbach sit alongside a female companion. A new book has controversially said that the pair had a two-year relationship between 1908 and 1910

Lovers? Gandhi and Kallenbach sit alongside a female companion. A new book has controversially said that the pair had a two-year relationship between 1908 and 1910

Kallenbach was born in Germany but emigrated to South Africa where he became a wealthy architect.

Gandhi was working there and Kallenbach became one of his closest disciples. .

The pair lived together for two years in a house Kallenbach built in South Africa and pledged to give one another ‘more love, and yet more love . . . such love as they hope the world has not yet seen.’Controversial: The new book outlines many details of Gandhi’s sexual behaviour, including allegations he slept with his great niece

Controversial: The new book outlines many details of Gandhi’s sexual behaviour, including allegations he slept with his great niece

The extraordinary claims were made in a new biography by author Joseph Lelyveld called ‘Great Soul: Mahatma Gandhi And His Struggle With India’ which details the extent of his relationship with Kallenbach like never before.

At the age of 13 Gandhi had been married to 14-year-old Kasturbai Makhanji, but after four children together they split in 1908 so he could be with Kallenbach, the book says.

At one point he wrote to the German: ‘Your portrait (the only one) stands on my mantelpiece in my bedroom. The mantelpiece is opposite to the bed.’

Although it is not clear why, Gandhi wrote that vaseline and cotton wool were a ‘constant reminder’ of Kallenbach.

He nicknamed himself ‘Upper House’ and his lover ‘Lower House’ and he vowed to make Kallenbach promise not to ‘look lustfully upon any woman’.

‘I cannot imagine a thing as ugly as the intercourse of men and women,’ he later told him.

They were separated in 1914 when Gandhi went back to India – Kallenbach was not allowed into India because of the First World War, after which they stayed in touch by letter.

As late as 1933 he wrote a letter telling of his unending desire and branding his ex-wife ‘the most venomous woman I have met’.

Lelyveld’s book goes beyond the myth to paint a very different picture of Gandhi’s private life and makes astonishing claims about his sexuality.Revolutionary: The claims made in the book are likely to be disputed by millions of Gandhi’s followers across the globe

Revolutionary: The claims made in the book are likely to be disputed by millions of Gandhi’s followers across the globe

It details how even in his 70s he regularly slept with his 17-year-old great niece Manu and and other women but tried to not to become sexually excited.

He once told a woman: ‘Despite my best efforts, the organ remained aroused. It was an altogether strange and shameful experience.’

The biography also details one instance in which he forced Manu to walk through a part of the jungle where sexual assaults had in the past taken place just to fetch a pumice stone for him he liked to use to clean his feet.

She returned with tears in her eyes but Gandhi just ‘cackled’ and said: ‘If some ruffian had carried you off and you had met your death courageously, my heart would have danced with joy.’

The revelations about Gandhi are likely to be deeply contested by his millions of followers around the world for whom he is revered with almost God-like status.

Nobody from the Indian High Commission to Britain was available for comment.

Comments (140)

Here’s what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below, or debate this issue live on our message boards.

The comments below have been moderated in advance.

Gandhi is a great person, but exploring his personal life is useless task.

- vijay, bangalore,India, 29/3/2011 7:21Rating 14

Mohandas (Mahatma was his honorific) Gandhi isn’t here to defend himself. It would be one thing if these things were known in his lifetime or just afterwards. It’s quite another thing a full century plus later. I have no great honor for Gandhi the 1947 Partition ended more than 1 million lives but unless there is something real to this, such as a genuine historical record, let the man rest in peace. Like him or not, he is part of history now. Let that history be actual history, not “revisionist history” such as became so common since 1990.

- Nabuquduriuzhur, Oregon, US, 29/3/2011 4:38Rating 3

Why drag a dead man’s private life into the limelight? The poor soul has been dead for 62 years. People don’t even have the decency to let the dead soul have his well deserved rest.

- Kane, detroit U/SA, 29/3/2011 2:29Rating 6

So, how the hell does this matter to anyone? I don’t know why people enjoy peeping into someone else’s bedroom. Our concern with Gandhi is what he did outside his house. Not inside. And what he did outside is monumental and epoch making for India and even for the whole world.

- Azhal, Gurgaon, India, 29/3/2011 0:40Rating 1

It is bad to defame the personality of a common man but personality like Gandhi have many dimensions & anyone can paint it in any shade. Gandhi is a versatile personality, a personality with which you can love, you can hate, on you can crack a joke or worship. He was main reason of India’s growth or grief , he was India’s main Hero or villain, he was perfect leader or bad on table solution provider. He was the man having all the weakness of a human being have & all the strengths which a human wants to have… Gandhi was a darshan (or Philosophy), just extract the metal u want from it……..

- Dr Vimal Khurana, Pune, 28/3/2011 23:37Rating 10

This guy is really funny. A very funny book. i hope all the people will look at this humorosly and not take this seriously. I was rolling on the floor with laughter.

- Jack, Indiana, U.S, 28/3/2011 23:09Rating 10

It’s rather funny how some of the people writing comments on this article cannot even get the man’s name right – It’s Gandhi & not GHANDI : )

- Somewhere in India, India, 28/3/2011 22:50

Wow,here comeas a writer claimin GANDHIJI was a bisexual. just to make some money and gain cheap publicity.However GANDHIJI is a by far at GREATER HIEIGHTS which these cheap writers can nvr touch.

- varun, delhi,india, 28/3/2011 22:20Rating 2

For a person of that stature to be dragged through filth by an unknown and given such media exposure is a travesty in itself and shame, not just to Indians but peace loving people who have his following all round the world. His peaceful means of making of a nation will never be forgotten worldwide and will prevail anything, let alone such mulch written by an unknown.

- Ebrahim Sodha, Nuneaton, England, 28/3/2011 19:57Rating 1

It’s an outrageous attempt to malign and defame one of the most widely acclaimed world leader. I am unsure of the author’s intent in making these claims. No matter what the article claims, Mahatma Gandhi would continue to be an inspiring leader to millions like me.

How very interesting I’m sure, but what difference does it really make to anything? Hermann Kallenbach should take up writing books for the under fives, it would probably be about the right level for his capabilities.

- Jimmy R , Highlands of Scotland, 28/3/2011 18:06Rating 2

BITTER TRUTH…

- shrjay, india, 28/3/2011 16:34Rating 1

The author isn’t saying Gandhi is anything less of an inspirational hero because he was bisexual is he? If people jump to that conclusion then maybe it says more about them than either Gandhi or the author. The problem with having the status Gandhi has, is that people forget he was a human being, in fact they get angry if people remind them of that fact…….as the comments show.

- DJM, Staffs, 28/3/2011 14:41

We will never know the truth!

- Sasha, Toronto, Canada, 28/3/2011 14:40

And if it was what is the problem? ceases to be what it was for that? is a nonsense, and perhaps silly to sell a publicity stunt. A pity.

- Eddie Bardi, Buenos Aires Argentina, 28/3/2011 14:32Rating 3

This is disgusting that this low life would publish lies about someone as great as Gandhi just to sell books and foolishness. It is a clear attempt to smear his reputation. Gandhi was a great person and Hindu with high morals who had regular scripture reading and devotional kirtans at his home. It is also not unusual for serious householders who were married to renounce that position in order to serve God and all others. Desiring to detatch oneself from sensual conditions to serve God better is a noble progression.

- Dharma, USA, 28/3/2011 14:28Rating 2

To denigrate the man who brought about the peaceful transition to independence in India , remind me how many millions died when we left and they started slaughtering each other! – Simon, GB, 28/3/2011 10:37 THIS IS BECAUSE YOU BRITISHSERS PARTIONED THE COUNTRY AS USUAL DIVIDE AND RULE OR IF YOU CAN’T THEN DESTROY LIKE WHAT YOU ARE DOING IN LIBYA, IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN.

- harsukh, delhi, 28/3/2011 14:17Rating 1

From what I can read from this article, it’s turning ideas of universal love, into sex. Also, according to his article, cotton and vaseline only has one use, which is vividly painted in the author’s imagination. Anyone who has read Gandhi’s autobiography, will know that he is MORE than candid about his private life, his struggles with desire and is very self-critical about how he handled his marriage. If he were bisexual, he would be the first to admit it openly. I see no evidence of a dishonest man, other than the heresay and innuendos listed in this article.

- Atul Rao, Burlington, Canada, 28/3/2011 14:16Rating 2

This is a lie! Whoever is peddling this garbage is only out to sell books and smear one of the greatest people in history who by the way was a devout Hindu who had very high moral principles. It is not unusual for householders “Grihasta” to leave at some point to focus on serving God and his creation, animals and humanity. This is a step prior to Sannyasa.

- Dharma, Ohio USA, 28/3/2011 14:16Rating 2

This is pure bull. The writer must not have any life to sit there and write about someone like Gandhiji, who was a great human being, obviously unlike the writer. This is outrageous. Shame on the publishers also for agreeing to publish such crap. I guess some people will go to any lengths for fame and money.

- Tanvi Shah, CA, USA, 28/3/2011 14:15Rating 1

what is even more amazing is the fact that hundreds of thousands of people died as a direct result of what Gandhi did & yet people still talk of him as some kind of saint. – Andy M, UK, 28/3/2011 13:25 you are out of your mind. gandhi didn’t go and killed people in jalianwala bagh, gandhi didn’t go and killed people who asked for freedom from british rule.

- harsukh, delhi, 28/3/2011 14:13

Had Gandhi been alive today,he would have marched for Gay Rights or fasted till death to overturn Chapter XVI ,Section 377 of Indian Penal Code, Anti Sodomy Law (sexual activity against the order of nature) enacted by British in 1860. Wonder why did he not do it while he was alive?

I have pre-ordered the book and at this point waiting to see if the author substantiates any of these with proof, in the form of letters or other documents. The excerpts in this article uses the words “told him” several times, and I am interested in how the author came to know of these conversations. Either way, he was a human being and a great one at that and nothing that he had done in his private life changes that or his teachings.

- Ann Fitzgerald, Longmont, Colorado, USA, 28/3/2011 14:01

Another demolition job on a man not here to defend himself, I shall treat it with the contempt it so deserves. What author will crawl out of the woodwork to tell us about Elizabeth Taylors darkest secrets or are they actually awaiting for her body to cool before their revelations?

- DB1, Nottingham ENGLAND, 28/3/2011 13:41

ghandi was a great soul, and that is the way he will be truly remembered.

Who cares? It is what it is. Men are men and women are women. Whatever he did, he did. Life goes on and so does his legacy. Nothing is what it appears to be here on planet Earth. The Human race is a contradiction. Throw away your egos and just get on with it.

- Ian de Montfort, London, England, 28/3/2011 12:49

Joseph, his publisher and all those involved in the book are going to make money on the expense of the reputaiton of one of the greatest personalities of the 20th century. – Zadig Voltaire, Dubai, 28/3/2011 8:43,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Not to worry. No one with any sense will waste their money on this hatchet job of a book. The ones who will are sick.

- NM, USA, 28/3/2011 12:37Rating 1

It would have been virtually impossible to keep this alleged affair a secret from the authorities in South Africa, who were certainly not sympathetic to Gandhi. He and his alleged partner would most certainly have been imprisoned, as Oscar Wilde was, because the Acts passed by the British Parliament most certainly applied to the colonies. It is interesting that the author is attempting to do what Churchill, George V, and others whose interests were at odds with Gandhi’s, could not during his life time.

- NM, USA, 28/3/2011 12:30Rating 2

Disgusting.. I would say…people have nothing to do?? except to create controversies, to point on character of the dead souls…God Bless them!!!

- Angha, India, 28/3/2011 12:16Rating 1

Disgusting.. I would say…people have nothing to do?? except to create controversies, to point on character of the dead souls…God Bless them!!!

It is despicable to create controversy on a taboo subject like Ghandi’s sexuality to sell books. That shows how bad the book publishers are today. But I also feel it is insulting to Indians to say that without Ghandi we would not have got our independence. My grandfather fought against the British and formed a platoon of Indian National Army in Singapore. It was the time British ran away from Singapore giving arms to local Chinese and Malays to fight the Japanese. British was losing and used Ghandi’s image to run away from India too, but with some pride intact as a good guy “giving” independence. The British advertised then and until today about this Great Soul only because it served their purpose. People like my grandfather who took a bullet from the British are known as terrorist then too. My advice, just forget the book. and don’t get worked up. I forgot the India which forgot her real freedom fighters. I now live in Indonesia a happy life.

- Vikram, Indonesia, 28/3/2011 11:59Rating 1

It seems to be a publicity stunt by the author to make money out of his foolish writings. There are so many people who studied MG, even there were so many followers who stayed with him for life long, but no one has claimed such a nonsense. i am doubtful, if the author really know ” Mahatama Gandhi”. I advise author to write such a nonsense against those are living and really doing and if unable, then just shut.

- Sanjay Swami, Chennai, India, 28/3/2011 11:55Rating 1

Be this true or not, it does not take away from the great deads that he has done. They’d be a fool to try to do that.

- Chria, UK, 28/3/2011 11:39

Lelyveld’s book seems totally disgusting. His book reinforces what Mr. Gandhi once famously remarked on Western civilization – “Yes, I think it would be a very good idea!”

- G Krishnamurthy, New Delhi, India, 28/3/2011 11:24Rating 2

This is sad, the mind-body-and soul of this demented author seems to have been badly abused, god knows why he is taking it out on Gandhi, who will he take it out on in his next book – Mother Theresa, help him before he gets into serious trouble with his gross imagination (vasline, cotton wool, upper n lower house – yucks man)

- AAGwoods, Bombay, 28/3/2011 11:10Rating 1

Why tarnish a dead mans memory without proof?

- Chuck Norris can heal the world, Farmville, 28/3/2011 11:04Rating 1

well like all other human beings he may have his own struggles with his sexuality and he does not seem to be an exception. after all to be an extraordinary and saint-like human, conquering sexuality in any form is a big big challenge.

- Mir Ahmad, Srinagar, India, 28/3/2011 10:56Rating 1

Finally the truth comes out about one of the biggest deceptions of history so far. Ghandi was in no way what his adorers has made out if him. He was a stubborn, egoistic, arrogant and vile little man. Those who personally and intimately knew him were deterred from giving the world a truthful testimony on Ghandis actual character. His famed political achievments do in no way excuse his extremely negative character. It is time to se leading figures as they really are and not make Gurus out of borderline and half insane personalities.

- Kleinbauer, Austria, 28/3/2011 10:42Rating 2

Who cares. It’s what he said and did that matters, not who he slept with. In fact this only reveals him as being even more sensitive and adds another dimension to his humanity. He was, after all, human!

- C Smith, Ipswich UK, 28/3/2011 10:36

Gurpreet: I’m outraged that you’re outraged that Ghandhi’s reputation might be tainted if he did in fact have a male lover. Love is love, idiot.

- Jiggs, New Hampshire, USA, 28/3/2011 10:34Rating 1

It is a pity that slander and libel laws do not apply after a man’s death. Why now? In any case, it does not diminish or tarnish in the least bit. Unless you already have a low opinion of Gandhi to begin with.

- NM, USA, 28/3/2011 10:30

The love story between Gandhi and Hermann Kallenbach is fascinating and should be an inspiration to gay people in the developing world.

- Georgie, London, 28/3/2011 10:26Rating 1

What a nasty society we live in where the great and the good are villified in this way in order to make money. I hope this book bombs and ends up remaindered.

- Johntymol, Uk, 28/3/2011 10:16Rating 2

Don’t care what his sexuality was. I am more interested in what he stood for.

- Ellie, Glasgow, Scotland, 28/3/2011 9:50Rating 2

Well people… Holy man or not, I guess everyone agrees to what he did for south african and Indian liberation… He never wrote anywhere or to anyone saying “follow me I am God” or any such thing. He just did what he probably thought was right. who asked you to follow him in the first place? And well, I believe most of the leaders in the UK and the USA have had worser pasts than Gandhi is claimed to have had. He never did anything wrong to us or anyone. His personal life whatever it was, was personal. We admire him for the great leader he was… And most of all, he died. We don’t speak ill of the dead. Nor shall we dig up stuff, backed by ‘claimed’ proof against anyone who has died for our country. He’s a martyr for us and we shall let it remain that way. We can talk a million other stories… Enjoy a million other jokes… But not joke on the life of a man… After all, beneath everything, he was only mere human..

- Vijay Velayudhan, Kerala, India, 28/3/2011 9:36Rating 2

Poor Gandhi can’t defend himself. Even he were around I am sure he would have handled it with dignity and poise. This author should try spilling beans on someone like Putin. Would be surprised if he has the guts to do it.

- yuri, Moscow, 28/3/2011 9:16Rating 276

Its like focusing on Einstein’s sexuality instead of his ‘Theory of special & General relativity’. What an author!

- veejay_kay, Mumbai, India, 28/3/2011 9:12Rating 232

Mahatma is Sanskrit for “Great Soul,,, Gandhi was a great soul,,♥,,

- yar, Goa, India, 28/3/2011 8:56Rating 145

I am outraged at this attempt to taint such an amazing and influential figure’s name, with allegations that have no evidence to back them up. Without Gandhi, us Indians, would have never been able to overcome colonial rule from the British. Even if this is true, there is no need to dig up his private life – it is COMPLETLEY irrelevant. Mohandas Gandhi was a GREAT man, and he should be allowed to rest in peace.

- Gurpreet Dhaliwal, London, UK, 28/3/2011 8:50Rating 202

What next?,……a book about Ghandi, eating Burghers and Chips!

- King Oxley, London UK, 28/3/2011 8:44Rating 171

Joseph, his publisher and all those involved in the book are going to make money on the expense of the reputaiton of one of the greatest personalities of the 20th century. An example that is heeded today by the young Arab revolutionaries. Before revealing Gandhi’s “vices”, Joseph should be transparent about his own. I wonder if he ever heard: “Judge Not Lest Ye Be Judged! and Let He Who is Without Sin Cast the First Stone”. Gandhi was not only a great leader but a great human. Joseph is nothing less than the Gaddafi of authors. I will never buy this book. But I hope some tabloid in India will reveal all about Joseph’s sex life, (in details please if he has any).

- Zadig Voltaire, Dubai, 28/3/2011 8:43Rating 127

I think Kallenbach is Nicholas Cages great Grandfather. …….

- Matt, Florida, 28/3/2011 8:34

Although it is not clear why, Gandhi wrote that vaseline and cotton wool were a constant reminder of Kallenbach. -…………………….Really?

- D Aftasa, Brush, UK, 28/3/2011 8:30Rating 27

Had Gandhiji satyed with his – father, mother, brother, sister, uncle,aunt, nephew, nice, father in law, mother in law, brother in law, sister in law, grandfather, grandmother and or neighbours- then this author would have added these relatives/people to those list as well. I am sure if the author’s parents are alive, they would be ashamed of such a son & wish he was never born. May God bless Gandhiji’s soul. P.S: If Gandhiji were alive today or somehow knows about this book – then I am sure he would still forgive this trash.

- K Murali Krishna, Hyderabad, India, 28/3/2011 8:28Rating 14

what is even more amazing is the fact that hundreds of thousands of people died as a direct result of what Gandhi did & yet people still talk of him as some kind of saint.

- Andy M, UK, 28/3/2011 8:25Rating 1

He was first a man and second a sage and the sage was always in constant battle with the man. Sex was a trial in his later years but he was not a pope nor was he trying to appear as though he was sexless he knew his failings as a man with natural urges and admitted them many times. His greatest strength and challenge was his belief in “Ahimsa” or non-violence and that defeated the British-unfortunately because India disintegrated after that. Although at least they had their own country.

- goldie 206, korat Thailand, 28/3/2011 8:21Rating 10

Gandhi was not a saint nor was he a sinner. He was just a human being with extraordinary virtues. This author is trying to cash on some bizarre claims. I would not read his book where facts are screwed up and Gandhi’s words were wrongly interpreted by this author. “The Last Fast” written by SK Shravan makes more sense than this thoroughly made up account of the 20th century’s icon.

- Mona Oak, London England, 28/3/2011 8:12Rating 14

Gandhi was charged and fined for embezzling funds from the Post office where he worked in S.Africa.

- Boro, Nairobi Kenya, 28/3/2011 8:10Rating 1

Gandhi may have been very friendly with this German chap, but does not necessarily mean a loving “relationship”. It’s in Indian peoples nature to be very friendly with close friends. Did you know that many boys/men in India show friendship with other males by holding hands and walking on the streets and these are 101% heterosexuals. They have different lifestyles.

- Mohammed, London, 28/3/2011 8:08Rating 20

Another 15 minutes of fame seeking so called author, Mr Joseph Lelyveld! Shame on you for writing a book without foundation, Gandhi is not around to defend himself – well done for bringing this into light 60-70 years after his death! You need to go back and work for the New York Times and get back to manufacturing headlines there, pathetic!!!

- summer, london, 28/3/2011 8:05Rating 7

Gandhi was an acknowledged leader of more than 350 million Indians for over 4 decades. His sexual orientations would have been a huge scandal in conservative Indian society and the English would have exploited that to the hilt to malign him. It would have been God sent to them to veer away the strong influence Gandhi had on Indian public. It is therefore intellectual penury and degraded attempt to seek cheap publicity for the book at the expense of this great soul for whom no less a person than Einstein said on his death “coming generations will scarcely believe that such a person walked this earth in flesh & blood”. The author’s intellectual handicap is clear from his focus in the book. Gandhi’s concept of non violent passive resistance against injustice called ‘Satyagraha’ seems too much to absorb and write about. His suffering for others when he went on regular fasts should invoke instant bond particularly among Christians seems to be absent. Condemnation is minimum for the book.

- veejay_kay, Mumbai, India, 28/3/2011 7:57Rating 16

Just the fact that he left his family behind makes him a rat in my eyes. As far as I can see he is just another guy who walked out on his family obligations. His first duty was to them.

- Marie, USA, 28/3/2011 7:52Rating 3

Mahatma is Sanskrit for “Great Soul.Gandhi was a great Man ,, Peace

- yar, Goa, India, 28/3/2011 7:49

It’s easy to defame a GREAT person who is not present to defend himself….stop making up stories to increase your sales…..get a better story….loserrrrrrrrrrr

- sapna, india, 28/3/2011 7:43Rating 11

Is this another desperate attempt by the LGB lobby to change history?

- Rick, Teesside, 28/3/2011 7:41Rating 11

Ghandhi views were due to the treatment of the indentured labourers.

- Joe, North London, 28/3/2011 7:29Rating 6

Authour’s intention is to make Publicity for his book and make money, as an Indian I cannot tolerate these rubbish things,the book should be banned and government should take action against these writers.This is an insult for a great Person like Mahathma Gandhi.

- SAJITH KUMAR.M.V, sharjah,u.a.e, 28/3/2011 7:28

Seems to me like its the writer himself obsessed with sex and not Gandhi , He probably spent his whole life looking for any ‘homosexual’ links and this is the best he can come up with ?– bit pathetic

- Jonathan, Surrey, 28/3/2011 7:15Rating 13

He slept with two little virgin girls to keep him warm every night, but definitely did not have sex with them. This is on record countering the accusations of Lord Mountbatten’s pedophile activities at the time (Times of India).

- Malachy , Belfast, 28/3/2011 7:13Rating 41

A cheap attempt to malign Gandhi’s name and make some easy money by making weird claims. I have been an admirer of him but never a great follower. Some of the things claimed in this book like Gandhi’s purported comments to his niece Manu when she returned back from jungle is so weird that it completely discredits the whole book. Not worth a penny!!

- Bhupendra Singhal, London, 28/3/2011 6:28Rating 3

Joseph Lelyveld’s is so obviously out to make a quick buck through fictitious sensationalism. What took him so long to write this ‘biography’? It’s rather disgusting. Reading Tom’s (USA) comments, makes me wonder how his achievements compare with Gandhi’s. Gandhi’s politics of peaceful protests are as relevant today as back then. One only needs to compare the TUC’s peaceful protests in London with the hooligans at Trafalgar Square.

- Matt Chamberlain, London, 28/3/2011 6:27Rating 4

Worst trend of seeking money and fame, by stupid writing about immortals who ha no ways to prove these men misdeeds. We strongly reject these conjecture.

- Sivakumar, chennai, india., 28/3/2011 6:27Rating 2

Whatever the author has written is a naked truth. Gandhi’s experiments with “askhalitha Bhrahmacharya” meaning ‘celibacy without ejaculation’ are well known. Shabarmati Ashram was the hub of all these experiments. In Shabarmati Ashram many couples would stay with Gandhi. During the evening prayers he would convince them to not to indulge in physical union as it is inhuman. he would keep the men folk far away and the women folk closer to him so that he can use them for his experiments. As part of his experiments he would strip himself and would go to bed with multiple sex partners and make them fondle his private parts. Gandhi’s idea was even while they were fondling he should not get erection and should not ejaculate. Gandhi was a lustful man. He spoilt many women. He wrote in his autobiography stating that he was copulating with his wife in the bedroom while his father was dying. Even Acharya Vinoba Bhave one of the Gandhian and a bachelor advised Gandhi to stop such experiments.

- V.Ramachandra Reddy, Khammam; AP; India, 28/3/2011 6:22Rating 27

I heard he met and got on very well with Margaret Sanger the eugenist.

- Billy , Brent, 28/3/2011 5:41Rating 7

Far too many people think that Gandhi (and Mandela) are saints and can do no wrong. How mistaken they are.

- Owd Tyke, S.Devon, 28/3/2011 5:38Rating 14

To denigrate the man who brought about the peaceful transition to independence in India , remind me how many millions died when we left and they started slaughtering each other!

- Simon, GB, 28/3/2011 5:37Rating 39

Fairly untrustworhy cove, all in all. Lord Mountbatten will be spinning in his proverbial.

- Three Ducks, London, UK, 28/3/2011 5:33Rating 7

Mahatma is Sanskrit for “Great Soul.”,,, and Gandhi was a great soul ,, Peace ,,

- yar, Goa, India, 28/3/2011 5:31

One way or the other, Gandhi’s reputation is about to be revised. Who’s next after that, though? What interesting times we live in … I hope we all survive them.

- Philip, Bankrupted Britain, 28/3/2011 5:24Rating 7

Gandhiji was the father of the nation for the people of India, an utmost sincere person practicing meditation in its right earnest. Such slanderous remarks are uncalled for, and merely intended to create hatred and to just a stupid gimmick sell the book. Gandhiji is revered next to God and will continue to be so.. Hopefully this book is never released in India. Its a shame!!

- Milesh, Mumbai, India, 28/3/2011 5:22Rating 1

Tom, Florids, USA, He would not have been shot dead from a close range if we had people protecting him that cost us, Indians, “a fortune”. You are entitled to your opinion of course. But nothing changes the fact that he was a simpleton, he gave up everything to lead this mighty country to freedom. He taught us the meaning of – the pen is mightier than a sword.

- Radha, Bangalore, India, 28/3/2011 5:18Rating 3

I hope the writer also wrote about Non-Violence and Peaceful Co-Existence that Mahatma Gandhi preached throughout his life. He is a Man who did what he preached. I think I better not waste much time in commenting about what a lunatic wrote. Regards, Madhav Hyderabad India

- Madhav, Hyderabad, India, 28/3/2011 5:14Rating 3

Tarnishing the image of Mahatma Gandhi when he is no more with the sole intent to mint money with negative publicity is not only derogatory but also very much uncivilized and unlawful.Gandhi will ever be an icon, with indomitable spirit has the lasting inspiration to all freedom fighters, oppressed ones irrespective of cast,creed ,religion and country.

- SUBIR DUTTA, KOLKATA,INDIA, 28/3/2011 5:08Rating 2

so gandhi cannot defend himself coz he is dead… oh, the writer won a battle with a dead man…. genius…. try pick sumone ur own size…..this man a legend, and u just want some of that.

- jen, kuala lumpur, malaysia, 28/3/2011 4:59Rating 19

People say Gandhi was a ordinary man.And in it he had all faults of a ordinary men ..But for me he looks like extra IN ordinary. He never had a the courage to talk truth always tried to experiment with truth. In the process all he did was to falsify the bare naked truth. One example is the fact that he denied any wrong doing on women folk in mopla rebellion where nearly about a quarter million Hindus were butchered among them about a hundred thousand women were raped and killed . Gandhi in his zeal to get Muslims towards his side (from jnna) denied any wrong doing by Muslim fanatics worst he even stopped British from taking military action on violent mass murders..In fact jinna had warned gandhi about his support to Ali brothers and in fact jinaa asked British to take tough actions against those rapists.

- Pokiri , India, 28/3/2011 4:55Rating 56

DROSS!

- stud muffin, Hemel Hempstead, 28/3/2011 4:50Rating 2

This author is achieving the exact opposite of what he had in mind. His revelation about Gandhi is not even remotely shocking today. His book will not change the course of history. Gandhi did.

- Cecilia, Glasgow, 28/3/2011 4:45Rating 46

Mmmm.. from all the things I have read about Ghandi it looks like he was such a hypocrite and pretended to be so pure when he was so bizarrely impure for his time.. …but, at the same time, we have to honor the man for his true efforts for their Independence. Perhaps, he should be regarded a hero in independence only, not as a Holy man.

- Alexis, Tropical Place, 28/3/2011 4:43Rating 50

So much hagiography as been churned out on Gandhi that he has attained almost a god-like status in India. So a bit of negative publicity ought not to be such a bad thing, if only to balance out the scales somewhat. But it is known that Gandhi had a dysfunctional family life and was something of tyrant at home. I do hope the Indian govt doesn’t go about banning this book (as I am sure it will). Let the readers make their own judgments.

- Geronimo, Simla, India, 28/3/2011 4:32Rating 92

So this author writes controversial stuff about Mahatma Gandhi and he wants us to simply accept it without providing in-depth evidence to back up his story? I assume sensationalism sells and which is what he is trying to make cash. – Paul, NY, USA, 28/3/2011 6:30 Paul what makes you think the author provides no evidence? Have you read the book? What a headless response you give, indicating you have no intention of having an open mind.

- Steve, Perth, Western Australia, 28/3/2011 4:32Rating 19

People should find out more about Ghandi. The facts are available. Attenborough admitted that he had to leave many things out of his film or the Indian Government would not have allowed him to film in India. Ghandi was a racist. The South African Government wanted to put up a memorial to him and there were many protests because of his anti-black racism. Read his comments about blacks. Ghandi supported India being in the British Empire. He changed his mind because of the 1st World war. He was in the British Army. No pacifism there. He was resposible for allowing Mohamed Ali Jinah to move from being a minor figure to one who could force partition. This led to the slaughter of millions. His sexual choices have been well known for many years. There are many more examples where Ghandi was less than perfect but who is. He was human. I think that what annoys people who know the facts is the complete sanitising of a man with many great qualities but many great flaws

- Hannam, Leeds England, 28/3/2011 4:31Rating 40

I really expect a lot of protest in India in the coming days, once the news of this book is broadcasted in the news hungry media in India. Regarding the comment on Manu being sent to jungle is misconstrued. Manu was sent to the village in Bihar through the jungle because she had forgotten to carry Gandhiji’s stone. He had that stone for a good 25 years and used it to scrub his body. The reason Gandhiji insisted on getting it back, according to Manu in her book “Bapu My Mother” is that he wanted her to realise that she would next time remember that even small things shouldn’t be forgotten. This way she would become more focused.

- Ashwin, Mumbai, 28/3/2011 4:31Rating 5

I wonder if the author will be tourlng India promoting this garbage.

- daveyh, Holt,UK, 28/3/2011 4:23Rating 6

I’m not buying this book.

- Jav, London, 28/3/2011 4:19Rating 7

Regretfully there is so much fraudulent about this man that to call him Father of Nation is a joke. The true fathers of Nations of India and Pakistan are Jawahar Lal Nehru and Md Ali Jinnah. Gandhi exploited the poor and the ignorant by becoming their champion and this is the only claim to his leadership. Indians are suckers for theatricals!

- Musa Salim, Sutton UK, 28/3/2011 4:17Rating 105

This man has done great things for humanity. He promoted peace and love during his whole life. His sexuality is about his private life and i think its non of our concern as long as he hasn’t raped or done anything disgraceful.

- Diminoue, Port Louis, Mauritius, 28/3/2011 4:14Rating 4

So what if he had a bi-sexual fling. Good luck to him! Who cares. At least we are now living in a day and age where these things can be discussed. Unlike in our Victorian past, where everything was pushed under the carpet. It’s not such a big deal to be bi-curious.

- Warren-The-Yorkshireman, Yorkshire, 28/3/2011 4:11Rating 4

Okay, so he was bi-sexual, big deal. George Orwell once wrote an essay about him that flat out called him the equivalent of a “useful idiot,” and frankly made a good argument about it. Personally, I think he was a great man, with flaws, but none that take away from his achievements. I haven’t read the book yet, and may not be interested enough to do so, but even if every allegation is true, so what. The only people who would be scandalized by it being the truth are those who want the man to be a saint for whatever personal reason. Not a good enough reason to hide the truth.

- al, sunnyvale, ca, 28/3/2011 4:02Rating 5

Ghandi was a racist. He hated black people, referring to them as’ Kaffirs.’ He also hated Jews, and expressed that they should commit suicide to spite Hitler. He also threatened to commit suicide if the Dalit got the vote. So no, not a nice man at all.

This article tells us more about the DM and the modern obsession with sex and tittle tattle than it does about Ghandi.

- Tom, Madrid, 28/3/2011 3:57Rating 16

If in fact Gandhi was bisexual, who cares? Does that fact in any way alter anything he achieved or lessen the respect we have for him? No. So again, who cares?

- Maria, Madrid, Spain, 28/3/2011 3:52Rating 7

The writer of this book is obviously just trying to make a sensation to make money. Not worth a penny in my opinion. Anyone can slander the dead with little fear of reprisal. Secondly, only sexual perverts and deviants worry about other consenting adults’ sex lives. Its none of anyones business if he did or if he didnt have a sex life and has nothing to do with the goodness he did in the world.

- Winyan Staz, Washington, USA, 28/3/2011 3:40Rating 235

It is just a way/fashion of such low profile writers to sell their book. As Indians do not make much noise,such people are taking advantage. Gandhi was a great person,even if he was bisexual,whats wrong in that,look at his greater/brighter side,he is an Icon/inspiration for millions. So many books have been published on Gandhi including his own Auto Biography in which he has mentioned his experiments with himself. These small things will not change his image. ‘Indian High Commission in Britain are you there only to take salaries,Do something’

- Raman, New Delhi, 28/3/2011 3:33Rating 87

If you can’t see sex as an expression of pure love, don’t even begin to judge someone who does. Sex is not inherently dirty – it’s what simple minds make out of it.

- Rainer, Germany, 28/3/2011 3:26Rating 89

The rottening knots in a human brain which has been exposed for too long to a culture filled with lunancy can be felt in no greater stench as this book. The author is a respected figure in the literary world and has yet chosen to come forward with something as cheap, degrading and insulting as this book. The author may get points for creativity and stretching imagination but then that’s just about it, no further. Gandhi if alive would not have even bothered to respond to such a creature. Applying them his own imagination on Gandhi is like stretching imagination from earth to the moon. Gandhi would never get agitated by this book,instead will simply tell this person to publish all & anything more to his heart’s content if in his private little world it makes this person happy. So yes, but the book and quietly burn as many copies as you can buy in public or put them into recycling,better use than trash printed on paper.

- LeftRightBajaoSingh, Delhi India, 28/3/2011 3:04Rating 5

FUNNY!!!!!!

- auntynetts, hants uk, 28/3/2011 3:01Rating 59

Gandhi once said “To believe in something, and not to live it, is dishonest” Mahatma certainly lived by his word.

- Will Ashton, Sydney, Australia, 28/3/2011 2:00Rating 11

Even if this is true, the man has been dead for over 60 years! Jeez, some people can’t leave the dead in peace.

- HM, KL, 28/3/2011 1:35Rating 4

Ghandi views had stemmed from the treatment of the indentured labourers . The Daily Mail and its readers should look up the term ‘ indentured labour ‘.

- James, Loughton, 28/3/2011 1:32Rating 4

In the era where sex sells and sheer sensationalism rakes in moolah, am sure to tarnish the image of such a revered man over the years will be a money minting proposition for sure! As India has been an adaptive nation over the years; they will not even bother with such silly speculations…such appalling, disgracefull remarks will come and go but that will never make any difference to our “Father of the nation” Mahatma Gandhi! Let it on…. rgds Indrani

- Indrani Bose, Dubai, UAE, 27/3/2011 23:30Rating 67

If these revelations are true, then why hide them? Why would you want to keep things like this undewraps? Just because he’s bisexual doesn’t deminish his wonderful achievements now does it? The asumption of straightness leads people to believe that being non-straight was non-existant, so stop fooling yourselves. Bisexual people are bombarded with negative media remarks, positive role models are non-existant and when people think “bisexual” they think of the lipstick lesbians. Can’t we have a positive bisexual rolemodel come along and be celebrated once in a while?

- Voice of Reason and Sanity, A euro country, as Britain should be., 27/3/2011 23:20Rating 5

I doubt this is true and even if it were , it’s completely irrelevant , after all the beautiful things this man has done for the world , why should we care about his PRIVATE life!!? I hate people trying to dig dirt on dead people. Leave the man in peace and go write about Jordan.

- Dione, Essex UK, 27/3/2011 22:15Rating 218

I’ve never had a high opinion of Gandhi, frankly. He always seemed to be a fraud in many ways. I remember seeing a quote from an official somewhere, referring to the cost of protecting him when he travelled around the country on “third class” rail, that “his poverty costs us a fortune” !

- Tom, Florids, USA, 27/3/2011 22:03Rating 173

It seems to be the fashion to declare “gay” a dead icon and then present it as fact. We’ve also had Florence Nightingale (where’s the facts? None.), We’ve had Alexander the Great (again, no fact except the hollywood movie) And we’ve also had King David (who was lusting over, wait for it, … a woman .. . called Bathsheba). Shame they are not around to defend themselves. Still, we should not present it in schools as proven fact when its not.

- Ian, United Kingdom…, 27/3/2011 21:59Rating 28

This sounds like “Slander” to me! Or have I used the wrong word?

- Mike, Wellington NZ, 27/3/2011 21:47Rating 14

It’s so dishonorable to publish such accusations when targets cannot defend themselves.

Ghandi was a great man and we don’t need to know this. I don’t give a toss if he was bi-sexual.

- Graham, Beyond the Blue Horizon and in a World of My Own (Tenerife – the Last Resort!), 27/3/2011 20:20Rating 4

stop this non-sense! western society can never understand the eastern culture. for you guys everything sexual…there is more to life than sex…. yes, you can write loads of rubbish about people who are dead, becoz they cannot question you!. the author is a moron and so are the people who believes these lies.

- pras, canterbury, 27/3/2011 20:01Rating 1

Skeptical given that Ghandi did make a few anti-semetic remarks in his days

- Dave, NYC, NY, USA, 27/3/2011 19:55Rating 2

so?

- robert, madrid, 27/3/2011 19:45Rating 10

The Titanic was a great ship…..had it lived as long as Gandhi, it to would have had barnacles.

- randy, frisco, 27/3/2011 19:44Rating 4

‘Nobody from the Indian High Commission to Britain was available for comment.’ Or couldn’t have the courage to ask anyone from the Indian High Commission?

- m s bashir, London, Middlesex, 27/3/2011 19:25Rating 248

About thirty years ago I had a book from the Conservative Book Club about Ghandi. It, too, showed a dark side of him. It was written by an associate of Ghandi and showed a much less than holy facet of the man.

- John B., Delaware. USA, 27/3/2011 19:15Rating 32

Why do people like to write such ludrious and libellous stories like this when the person concerned is no longer with us to deny or confirm the story?

- Sweet Cherry, Sunny London, 27/3/2011 19:07Rating 14

How to identify reliable sources? Anyone can make a claim or an assertion about anything today.Said that, bisexual or not, he was indeed a great soul. I’m Off Then: Losing and Finding Myself on the Camino de Santiago.Let’s hope I get a book translated into Spanish. It must be an interesting read.

- J E da Silva Jardim, Joinville, 27/3/2011 18:57Rating 14

Is this even relevant?

- Gay Dude, Australia, 27/3/2011 18:54Rating 17

This will even make Ghandi more interesting! The guy sacrificed everything he had to save his country, I doubt if anyone would think less of him because of his sexual preferences!@

- Reza, California, 27/3/2011 18:53Rating 16

It never ceases to amaze me how so many people got brainwashed with the idea that Gandhi was such a great person. People need to read some of the stuff he said about the blacks, and how he wanted rights for Indians, but not blacks. But I guess most people take movies as their historical sources, and that is why they all think Gandhi was so amazing.

- FreeThinker, UK, 27/3/2011 18:45Rating 32

I suppose I must buy the book then.

- josé eduardo, Joinville,Brazil, 27/3/2011 18:41Rating 52

So this author writes controversial stuff about Mahatma Gandhi and he wants us to simply accept it without providing in-depth evidence to back up his story? I assume sensationalism sells and which is what he is trying to make cash.

- Paul, NY, USA, 27/3/2011 18:30Rating 413

So what?

- nicole, london, 27/3/2011 18:21Rating 288

disgraceful book………….

- jay, london, 27/3/2011 18:19Rating 111

So now you wanna make this story and so-called “new” information public… What’s the motive???????

- lady T, United States, 27/3/2011 18:15Rating 212

Someone always writes this nonsense about great people many years after their death.

- Ian, North Lanarkshire, 27/3/2011 18:12Rating 120

How romantic !!

- Steve G, Dublin Ireland, 27/3/2011 18:00Rating 97

Does Gandhi really need such protection?Gopalkrishna Gandhi , Hindustan Times

Mahatma Gandhi’s life invites scrutiny. His writing facilitates it. Innocent unconcern about likely distortions makes his letters and speeches peculiarly charming. It also makes tendentious mutilations of the story of his life particularly easy. I have not read Joseph Lelyveld’s book. Andso I ought not to — and will not — comment on it. But the media excitement in India, we should realise, has not been generated by a book but by a review of the book. Lelyveld has, in a riposte, said the review does not quote him right.

Should we get shocked, one way or the other, by what a review says a book says when the author of the book maintains he doesn’t? We should not.

But there is something else fit for our contemplation in this event. Gandhi has had so huge an impact on human thought (though nowhere near as huge on human action) that those uncomfortable with his ‘way’, have sought to counter his impact by strenuous attempts to locate flaws in his personality.

His ‘fads’ and his fetishes, his frankly unorthodox and — to all ‘normal’ sensibilities — his bizarre experiments in brahmacharya, his ‘inner voice’ and outer appearance, have all been found handy by demolition squads. He has, of course, collaborated in the proceedings most generously by his self-excoriating candour and by his lavish use of phrases and gestures of trust in fellow-beings.

Despite this, Gandhiphile thinking and writing continues to grow and continues to dwarf the Gandhiphobic. This is not just because of what Tara Ali Baig once described as “Gandhi’s shining veracity” but because the shape of human experience from Hiroshima to Fukushima, from global terror to global warming, from Hitler, Mussolini and Stalin to Pol-Pot, Idi Amin and Mubarak points to its wisdom.

The Gandhi-Kallenbach story, as given in the review, should help us place tendentious newspaper reviews where they belong, namely, the green bin for bio-degradables. It should also lead us to three things:

One, to a study of the remarkable career of that German architect of Jewish descent, Hermann Kallenbach, whom Gandhi helped transform from a high-living urbanite in Johannesburg to a ‘New Age’ comrade in ecologically intelligent living but with whom Gandhi differed seriously, in later years, on the question of Palestine.

Two, to a self-examination by ourselves (and the media) on the jumpiness over intellectual non-events and non-sequiturs.

Three, it should alert us to the folly of banning books not because we respect the subject of their scrutiny but because it pays to appear as its protector. Gandhi, least interested in self-protection, is best protected by the strength of his own words and the wordlessness of his own strength.

Gopalkrishna Gandhi has edited Gandhi Is Gone. Who Will Guide Us Now? He is also a grandson of Mahatma Gandhi. The views expressed by the author are personal.

more from this section

Don’t ban book: Bapu grandsonBirth of a nationKilling them softly

more»Share more…0 CommentsEmail print

comment Note: By posting your comments here you agree to the terms and conditions of www.hindustantimes.comCommunityDisqusAdd New CommentLogoutSid Harth12 comments 9 likes received

Showing 1 comments

Sid Harth 0 minutes agoGopalkrishna Gandhi, speaks wisely. The furor over a book, including its banning by Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi and similar attempts/intent of banning it in Maharashtra are cases of misplaced loyalty to Mahatma Gnadhi’s memory. RSS and its affiliates, Sangh Parivar, challenged the popular notion ascribed to Mahatma Gandhi as a “Father of the Nation.” The expression is foreign to India. India worships their country as a mother, “Mother India.” So, RSS has a point. RSS scrupulously kept themselves away from eulogizing Mahatma Gandhi, sort of ignored him in later years after Nathuram Godse, RSS’s Frankenstein, assassinated Mahatma Gandhi. Could there be anything as ghastly as that crime? Certainly not. A vague reference to a friendly relationship between two human beings brought together by their South Africa residence? That is not a crime at all. “satyameva jayate.”

…and I am Sid Harth

Books of The Times

Appreciating Gandhi Through His Human SideBy HARI KUNZRU

Published: March 29, 2011

Few figures seem more remote from contemporary India than Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, the Mahatma, or “Great Soul,” who spearheaded the struggle for independence. Gandhi’s beloved rural poor figure only intermittently in the consciousness of a country now focused on call centers, software entrepreneurs and movie stars. In the cities the Gandhian ideals of service, self-denial and universal uplift have been drowned out by the aggressive nationalism and shiny consumer culture of India’s urban boom.

Janny Scott

Joseph Lelyveld

GREAT SOUL

Mahatma Gandhi and His Struggle With India

By Joseph Lelyveld

Illustrated. 425 pages. Alfred A. Knopf. $28.95.

Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Mahatma Gandhi in 1931.

In this context, Joseph Lelyveld’s judicious and thoughtful new book, “Great Soul: Mahatma Gandhi and His Struggle With India,” seems almost eccentric, devoted as it is to explaining the evolution of a social and moral philosophy that, 60 years after the end of the British Raj, has lost the attention of the nation it once enthralled.

Mr. Lelyveld (once a New York Times correspondent in India and South Africa and later the newspaper’s executive editor) teases out the forces that transformed a sheltered young Gujurati Hindu lawyer from a conservative merchant caste into the Mahatma, a figure part politician and part saint, who renewed the ancient tradition of Hindu asceticism in the hope not just of political independence, but also of a social and spiritual transformation based in the Indian villages.

In Gandhi’s early years in South Africa we see an ambitious lawyer, an immigrant almost by chance, brought over in 1893 to assist in a civil suit between rival Indian-owned trading companies with roots in his hometown. Initially orthodox in his religious beliefs, he was drawn — like many Indians later active in the national liberation movement — into the fringe milieu of Theosophy, a creed whose blend of Hinduism and Western Spiritualism made it a magnet for holders of unconventional ideas. Theosophical meetings were one of the few places where Indians and Europeans could meet socially on equal terms.

In 1894 Gandhi would go so far as to identify himself in a newspaper advertisement for a series of self-published tracts as “Agent for the Esoteric Christian Union and the London Vegetarian Society,” and it was through a Theosophist friend that he discovered Tolstoy, whose creed of universal brotherhood and radical nonviolence affected him profoundly.

Gandhi soon became a spokesman for the Indian business elite of Natal Province in South Africa, lobbying against a system of discriminatory legislation which was rapidly evolving toward full-blown apartheid. Despite his later claims, Gandhi did not immediately champion the rights of indentured laborers, the underclass of mainly low-caste South Indians who had been transported to labor in mines and on plantations in conditions of semi-slavery. He was also yet to become the staunch anti-imperialist of later years. Hoping to gain concessions from the British colonial authorities, he organized an Indian stretcher battalion to serve in the Boer War, and in an ignoble episode in 1906 assisted (also as the leader of a corps of stretcher-bearers) in the brutal suppression of a Zulu uprising.

Throughout Gandhi’s time in South Africa there is no sign of any attempt to make common cause with the black majority. Imprisoned with Zulu convicts, he reported un-self-consciously that “Kaffirs are as a rule uncivilized — the convicts even more so. They are troublesome, very dirty and live almost like animals.”

Gandhi has been the subject of at least 30 full-length biographies in English alone. To American readers who may know only the basic outlines of his life, “Great Soul” will come as a revelation. Divided equally between Gandhi’s years in South Africa and his return to India as the fully fledged Mahatma, the book scrupulously avoids sensationalism, which is for the best, given that even readers in India, more familiar with the idea of Gandhi as a complex figure, will still find the portrait of a troubled, changeable, wily and occasionally egotistical politician challenging.

While Gandhi’s political rivalries and his shortcomings as a husband and father have been publicly debated, Mr. Lelyveld’s frank discussion of Gandhi’s erotically charged friendship with the German-Jewish architect and bodybuilder Hermann Kallenbach is likely to ruffle feathers, especially in a country where homosexual activity was a criminal offense until 2009.

Gandhi left his wife to live at Kallenbach’s house in Johannesburg for a period, and Kallenbach donated to Gandhi the 1,100 acres that became their communal Tolstoy Farm in 1910. As Mr. Lelyveld notes, “in an age when the concept of Platonic love gains little credence,” the romantic tone of their letters (including pet names) is likely to be read as indication of a straightforward homosexual intimacy.

Yet it is also clear in Mr. Lelyveld’s account that Gandhi’s celibacy was a profound and deeply felt position. His vow of brahmacharya, or self-imposed celibacy, taken in 1906, was to become the foundation of his moral authority in the eyes of the Indian masses. Nearing 70, he had a wet dream. The “degrading, dirty, torturing experience” was shattering, he wrote. It “made me feel as if I was hurled by God from an imaginary paradise where I had no right to be in my uncleanliness.”

Gandhi returned to India in 1914 and threw himself into the struggle for self-rule. Repeatedly imprisoned by the British, he led a campaign of civil disobedience, culminating in the Salt March movement of 1930, which, as Mr. Lelyveld writes, “shook the pillars of the Raj” and resulted in 90,000 arrests after Gandhi defied a British tax by the simple act of going to the seashore and harvesting salt.

As Mr. Lelyveld tracks Gandhi’s life, it becomes clear that any attempt to understand Gandhi as some kind of contemporary liberal humanist avant la lettre is off the mark. He was a disciplined religious ascetic. To a degree unmatched by any modern leader of comparable stature, Gandhi’s politics were played out through his body.

Where he ate, what he ate, who cooked it — all were properly political questions for a leader trying to maintain shaky unity between Hindus and Muslims, while engaged in a battle against the caste system, which was one of the foundations of Hindu belief. By voluntarily performing actions considered polluting or degrading, like collecting human waste and living with untouchables, Gandhi earned the right to offer new definitions of what was uplifting and purifying — definitions that were both spiritual and political.

Mr. Lelyveld has restored human depth to the Mahatma, the plaster saint, allowing his flawed human readers to feel a little closer to his lofty ideals of nonviolence and universal brotherhood.

Hari Kunzru is the author of three novels. His next, “Gods Without Men,” will be published by Alfred A. Knopf in 2012.

A version of this review appeared in print on March 30, 2011, on page C6 of the New York edition.

How Gandhi Became GandhiBy GEOFFREY C. WARD

Published: March 24, 2011

Some years ago, the British writer Patrick French visited the Sabarmati ashram on the outskirts of Ahmedabad in the Indian state of Gujarat, the site from which Mahatma Gandhi led his salt march to the sea in 1930. French was so appalled by the noisome state of the latrines that he asked the ashram secretary whose job it was to clean them.

Vithalbai Jhaveri/GandhiServe

Gandhi, circa 1906.

GREAT SOUL

Mahatma Gandhi and His Struggle With India

By Joseph Lelyveld

Illustrated. 425 pp. Alfred A. Knopf. $28.95.

Keystone/Getty Images

Mohandas K. Gandhi arrived in South Africa in 1893 as a young British-trained lawyer.

Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images

Gandhi in India in the 1920s.

A sweeper woman stopped by for an hour a day, the functionary explained, but afterward things inevitably became filthy again.

But wasn’t it a central tenet of the Mahatma’s teachings that his followers clean up after themselves?

“We all clean the toilets together, on Gandhiji’s birthday,” the secretary answered, “as a symbol to show that we understand his message.”

Gandhi had many messages, some ignored, some misunderstood, some as relevant today as when first enunciated. Most Americans — many middle-class Indians, for that matter — know what they know about the Mahatma from Ben Kingsley’s Academy Award-winning screen portrayal. His was a mesmerizing performance, but the script barely hinted at the bewildering complexity of the real man, who was at the same time an earnest pilgrim and a wily politician, an advocate of celibacy and the architect of satyagraha (truth force), a revivalist, a revolutionary and a social reformer.

It is this last avatar that interests Joseph Lelyveld most. “Great Soul” concentrates on what he calls Gandhi’s “evolving sense of his constituency and social vision,” and his subsequent struggle to impose that vision on an India at once “worshipful and obdurate.” Lelyveld is especially qualified to write about Gandhi’s career on both sides of the Indian Ocean: he covered South Africa for The New York Times (winning a Pulitzer Prize in 1986 for his book about apartheid, “Move Your Shadow”), and spent several years in the late 1960s reporting from India. He brings to his subject a reporter’s healthy skepticism and an old India hand’s stubborn fascination with the subcontinent and its people.

This is not a full-scale biography. Nor is it for beginners. Lelyveld assumes his readers are familiar with the basic outlines of Gandhi’s life, and while the book includes a bare-bones chronology and is helpfully divided into South African and Indian sections, it moves backward and forward so often, it’s sometimes harder than it should be to follow the shifting course of Gandhi’s thought.

But “Great Soul” is a noteworthy book, nonetheless, vivid, nuanced and cleareyed. The two decades Gandhi spent in South Africa are too often seen merely as prelude. Lelyveld treats them with the seriousness they deserve. “I believe implicitly that all men are born equal,” Gandhi once wrote in the midst of one of his campaigns against untouchability. “I have fought this doctrine of superiority in South Africa inch by inch.”

It actually took a long time for the Mahatma to turn that implicit belief into explicit action, Lelyveld reminds us. When Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi arrived in Durban from Bombay in 1893, he was a natty 23-year-old British-trained lawyer, hired to help represent one wealthy Muslim Indian trader in a dreary civil suit against another, and primarily interested in matters of religion and diet, not politics: in an early advertisement he proclaimed himself an “Agent for the Esoteric Christian Union and the London Vegetarian Society.” But, Lelyveld writes, “South Africa . . . challenged him from the start to explain what he thought he was doing there in his brown skin.”

Initially, Gandhi was simply affronted that discriminatory laws and bigoted custom lumped educated well-to-do Indians like him with “coolies,” the impoverished mine, plantation and railroad workers who made up the bulk of the region’s immigrant Indian population. The nonviolent campaigns he waged to bring about equality between Indians and whites over the next 20 years would lead him — slowly and unsteadily, but inexorably — to advocate equality between Indian and Indian, first across caste and religious lines and then between rich and poor. (His identification with the aspirations of black people would not come until long after he had left Africa.)

As Lelyveld shows, the outcomes of Gandhi’s campaigns in South Africa were neither clear-cut nor long-lasting: after one, his own supporters beat him bloody because they thought he’d settled too quickly for a compromise with the government. But they taught him how to move the masses — not only middle-class Hindu and Muslim immigrants but the poorest of the poor as well. He had, as he himself said, found his “vocation in life.”

Soon after returning to India in 1915, Gandhi set forth what he called the “four pillars on which the structure of swaraj” — self-rule — “would ever rest”: an unshakable alliance between Hindus and Muslims; universal acceptance of the doctrine of nonviolence, as tenet, not tactic; the transformation of India’s approximately 650,000 villages by spinning and other self-sustaining handicrafts; and an end to the evil concept of untouchability. Lelyveld shrewdly examines Gandhi’s noble but doomed battles to achieve them all.

He made a host of enemies along the way — orthodox Hindus who believed him overly sympathetic to Muslims, Muslims who saw his calls for religious unity as part of a Hindu plot, Britons who thought him a charlatan, radical revolutionaries who believed him a reactionary. But no antagonist was more implacable than Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, the brilliant, quick-tempered untouchable leader — still largely unknown in the West — who saw the Mahatma’s nonviolent efforts to eradicate untouchability as a sideshow at best. He even objected to the word ­Gandhi coined for his people — “Harijans” or “children of God” — as patronizing; he preferred “Dalits,” from the Sanskrit for “crushed,” “broken.”

Sometimes, Gandhi said Indian freedom would never come until untouchability was expunged; sometimes he argued that untouchability could be eliminated only after independence was won. He was unapologetic about that kind of inconsistency. “I can’t devote myself entirely to untouchability and say, ‘Neglect Hindu-Muslim unity or swaraj,’ ” he told a friend. “All these things run into one another and are interdependent. You will find at one time in my life an emphasis on one thing, at another time on [an]other. But that is just like a pianist, now emphasizing one note and now [an]other.” It was also like the politician he said he was, always careful to balance the demands of one group of constituents against those of another.

As Lelyveld has written in “Move Your Shadow,” “Gandhi had hoped to bring about India’s freedom as the moral achievement of millions of individual Indians, as the result of a social revolution in which the collapse of alien rule would be little more than a byproduct of a struggle for self-reliance and economic equality.” Foreign rule did collapse, in the end, “but strife and inequality among Indians ­worsened.”

Gandhi is still routinely called “the father of the nation” in India, but it is hard to see what remains of him beyond what Lelyveld calls his “nimbus.” His notions about sex and spinning and simple living have long since been abandoned. Hindu-Muslim tension still smolders just beneath the uneasy surface. Untouchability survives, too, and standard-issue polychrome statues of Ambedkar in red tie and double-breasted electric-blue suit now outnumber those of the sparsely clothed Mahatma wherever Dalits are still crowded together.

Gandhi saw most of this coming and sometimes despaired. The real tragedy of his life, Lelyveld argues, was “not because he was assassinated, nor because his noblest qualities inflamed the hatred in his killer’s heart. The tragic element is that he was ultimately forced, like Lear, to see the limits of his ambition to remake his world.”

Nonetheless, Lelyveld also writes, while he may have “struggled with doubt and self until his last days,” Gandhi “made the predicament of the millions his own, whatever the tensions among them, as no other leader of modern times has.” And, for all his inconsistencies, his dream for India remained constant throughout his life. “Today,” Gandhi wrote less than three weeks before he was murdered by a member of his own faith, “we must forget that we are Hindus or Sikhs or Muslims or Parsis. . . . It is of no consequence by what name we call God in our homes.”

That was a revolutionary notion when he first urged Indians to unite against their oppressors in South Africa before the turn of the 20th century. It was revolutionary when he came home to India at the time of World War I, and still revolutionary in 1947 when India was simultaneously liberated and ripped apart by the religious hatred he had repeatedly risked his life to quell, and sadly, it remains revolutionary today — for India and, by extension, for the wider world as well.

Geoffrey C. Ward, a biographer and a screenwriter for documentary films, spent part of his boyhood in India and is currently writing a book about partition.

A version of this review appeared in print on March 27, 2011, on page BR1 of the Sunday Book Review.

Gandhi, India’s God-Like Founding Father, Was Bisexual, According to New BookNot Only Was Peace Maker Gay, But He Had Racist Tendencies, Says Pulitzer-Winning Author of ‘Great Soul’

By SUSAN DONALDSON JAMESMarch 30, 2011

Was Mahatma Gandhi gay? A new book by Pulitzer-Prize winning author Joseph Lelyveld claims the god-like Indian figure not only left his wife for a man, but also harbored racist attitudes.

Gandhi, who led India to independence and is a universal symbol of peaceful resistance, had another side — a more human one. In a biography that hit stores this week — “Great Soul: Mahatma Gandhi and his Struggle With India,” former New York Times reporter Lelyveld insists that Gandhi was gay, or at least bisexual.

His lover was Hermann Kallenbach, a German-Jewish architect and bodybuilder. The couple built their love nest during Gandhi’s time in South Africa where he arrived as a 23-year-old law clerk in 1893 and lived for 21 years, Lelyveld writes.

Much of the intimacy between the two is revealed in Kallenbach’s letters to his Indian friend. Gandhi left his wife, “Ba,” — an arranged marriage — in 1908 for Kallenbach, a lifelong bachelor, according to the book.

In letters, Gandhi wrote to Kallenbach, “How completely you have taken possession of my body. This is slavery with a vengeance. “

“Your portrait (the only one) stands on my mantelpiece in the bedroom,” he writes. “The mantelpiece is opposite the bed.”

The new book has been banned in one Western India state, Gujarat, after local press reports claimed the book maligns the father of modern India, according to the Associated Press. Its top state politician, Chief Minister Narendra Modi, called the book “perverse. “

Politicians in the state of Maharashtra, home to India’s financial capital Mumbai, have asked the central government to bar publication nationwide.

“This is a non-issue,” said Bidyut Chakrabarty, resident scholar at The Gandhi Center for Global Non-Violence. “In India, especially, they tend to think the mahatma is perfect. Mahatma means great soul and they put him on a pedestal, thinking he cannot be human, he’s a god.”

“And if he’s a god, how can he be homosexual?” he asked.

Gandhi Autobiography Addresses Sexual Pleasure

Chakrabarty said that Gandhi emphasized his humanness in an autobiography that was written in 1933. “He kept saying, ‘I am a human being,’ and he talked about sexual pleasure. It was a very big topic in the autobiography.”

The Hindu religion, just as Christianity, frowns upon homosexuality, according to Chakrabarty, who has written several books about Gandhi. But in India today, discrimination against gays is illegal and many are open about their sexual orientation.

In Levyveld’s book, the lovers’ nicknames to each other were “Upper House” and “Lower House,” suggesting one may have been in a stronger position of power.

The book says Gandhi may have been the one to “think deep thoughts” and Kallenbach was more preoccupied with “matters of physical fitness and everything that’s down to earth.”

The author discovers that Gandhi “made Lower House promise not to look lustfully upon any woman,” and the pair swore to each other “‘more love, and yet more love … such love as they hope the world has not yet seen.”

But it seems the Indian leader also liked women. In his 70s, Gandhi was also alleged to have had naked “nightly cuddlies” with 17-year-old great niece Manu.

At one point he forced Manu to walk through a part of the jungle where women risked sexual attacks just to get him a pumice stone to clean his feet.

When she came back crying, Gandhi “cackled” and purportedly said: “If some ruffian had carried you off and you had met your death courageously, my heart would have danced with joy,” according to the book.

The author also alleges that Gandhi had racist attitudes when exposed to “kaffir,” as blacks were called in South Africa.

As early as 1894, he wrote a letter to the Natal legislature, “the raw Kaffir, whose occupation is hunting and whose sole ambition is to collect a number of cattle to buy a wife, and then pass his life in indolence and nakedness.”

“We were marched off to a prison intended for Kaffirs,” he is alleged to have said. “We could understand not being classed with whites, but to be placed on the same level as the Natives seemed too much to put up with. Kaffirs are as a rule uncivilized.”

Gandhi Eyed Blacks as Untouchables, Says Book

Some Indian scholars said Gandhi may have even viewed blacks as “untouchables,” the lowest class in his homeland.More Video1 2 3PreviousNextStopping a Killer Health ThreatWatch: Stopping a Killer Health ThreatCan polio be eradicated?Watch: Can polio be eradicated?Eradicating a Deadly VirusWatch: Eradicating a Deadly Virus

As for Gandhi’s racial attitudes, they too, are inconsequential when seen through the lens of the Indian leader’s larger political struggle, according to scholar Chakrabarty, who has authored three books on Gandhi.

“He was a smart and strategic politician,” he said. “He was more concerned about removing racism against England. It’s true, he didn’t pick up the black issues in South Africa, but that was not his fight.”

“He didn’t want to dilute his political ambition,” said Chakrabarty.

The Wall Street Journal review of the book said it recast Gandhi as “a sexual weirdo, a political incompetent, a fanatical faddist, implacably racist, and a ceaseless self-promoter, professing his love for mankind as a concept while actually despising people as individuals.”

Lelyveld says in his author’s note that the book takes “a fresh look, in an attempt to understand his life as he lived it. I’m more excited by the man himself, the long arc of his strenuous life, than by anything that can be distilled as doctrine.”

At the age of 13 Gandhi had been married to 14-year-old Kasturbai Makhanji, but after four children together they broke up so he could be with Kallenbach.

As late as 1933 Gandhi wrote a letter telling of his unending desire and branding his ex-wife “the most venomous woman I have met.”

Kallenabach emigrated from East Prussia to South Africa where he first met Gandhi. The author describes Gandhi’s relationship with the man as, “the most intimate, also ambiguous relationship of [Gandhi's] lifetime.”

“They were a couple,” said Tridip Suhrud, a Gandhi scholar who met Lelyveld in India.

The source of much of the detail of their affair was found in the “loving and charming love notes” that Gandhi wrote to Kallenbach, whose family saved them after the architect’s death. They eventually landed in the National Archives of India.

Gandhi had destroyed all those from Kallenbach.

It was known that Gandhi was preoccupied with physiology, and even though he had a “taut torso,” weighing 106 to 118 pounds throughout his life, the author says Gandhi was attracted to Kallenbach’s strongman build.

The pair lived together for two years in a house Kallenbach built in South Africa and pledged to give one another “more love, and yet more love.”

Gandhi implored Kallenbach not to “look lustfully upon any woman” and cautioned, “I cannot imagine a thing as ugly as the intercourse of men and women.”

By the time Gandhi left South Africa in 1914, Kallenbach was not allowed to accompany him because of World War I. But Gandhi told him, “You will always be you and you alone to me…I have told you you will have to desert me and not I you.”

NEW DELHI: Thousands of books have been written on Mahatma Gandhi with each new one claiming to have discovered an unknown facet of his eventful life. When reviews of Pulitzer prize winner Joseph Lelyveld’s “Great Soul: Mahatma Gandhi and His Struggle with India” hit the newspapers in England and US claiming that the book says Gandhi was a bisexual and had a German-Jewish bodybuilder lover in Hermann Kallenbach it created immediate sensation.

But as the Daily Mail’s review of the book created a storm in cyberspace, there was a barrage of protests not just from Gandhians who said this was “blasphemy”, but from the book’s author himself who denied having suggested anything of the sort.

Lelyveld told TOI, “I do not allege that Gandhi is a racist or bisexual in ‘Great Soul’. The word ‘bisexual’ nowhere appears in the book.” He also denied having called Gandhi a racist. “The word ‘racist’ is used once to characterise comments by Gandhi early in his stay in South Africa, part of a chapter summarising his statements about Africans and his relations with them. The chapter in no way concludes that he was a racist or offers any suggestion of it.”

Psychoanalyst Sudhir Kakar, one of the first to write on Gandhi’s sexuality in ‘Intimate Relations: Exploring Indian Sexuality’ and later in ‘Mira and Mahatma’, is yet to read the book but has gone through an ocean of archives on Gandhi and says he never discovered anything that the reviewers claim the book consists of.

Kakar remembers finding references to Kallenbach during his research but not the way the reviewers have portrayed it. He says if the book has what reviewers claim then it is plain “stupid.” “Gandhi always talked of complete love but it was of platonic kind,” he says. Another eminent modern India historian who has read the book said, “The reviews are by Churchill fans and rightwingers.” The Mahatma’s grandson Gopal Gandhi said, “I will not comment till I read the book.”

But Gandhian scholar Tridip Suhrud, author of books like ‘The Autobiography of The Story of My Experiments With Truth’ not only interacted with Lelyveld when he was researching the book but has also read it. He is aghast with the reviews and swears by Lelyveld. Suhrud says the section on Kallenbach begins with a quote from him.

“Lelyveld asks me what I think of Gandhi’s relationship with Kallenbach and I say, ‘It is almost like a couple’. The two had a deep bond that borders on attraction of platonic kind. Joseph is not talking about what the reviewers are claiming,” Suhrud says. He explains that in the late 19th century and early 20th century men addressed each other in a way that can be construed now as lovers.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and senior BJP leader LK Advani came to the defence of BJP leader Arun Jaitley over the WikiLeaks expose that said he had called Hindutva an “opportunistic” issue. With this, the Sangh Parivar has officially decided to buy Jaitley’s clarification on an issue tha

t has made the BJP feel the heat after having roundly attacked the government over WikiLeaks.“I think the BJP leadership has also clarified about their ideological position. As far as we are concerned, Hindutva is the sheet anchor of our ideological movement,” RSS leader Ram Madhav said, when asked about Jaitley’s comments. Thus, while reiterating the Sangh’s commitment to Hindutva, he suggested the Sangh was officially with Jaitley’s defence.

Advani said in Mumbai that Jaitley had clarified that he did not use the word “opportunistic”. “The cable is correct, but the interpretation is wrong,” he said.

Jaitley himself again made light of the Congress charge against him over the leaked cables. “Any comment or use of phrase used by a US diplomat such as ‘opportunistic’ is completely inconsistent to views expressed by us. It is inconsistent to our phraseology or ideology. It is neither our view nor our ideology,” he said.

BJP president Nitin Gadkari had also sprung to Jaitley’s defence as soon as the controversy had cropped up, saying that the BJP leader had not used the term attributed to him.

Incidentally, the Sangh defence comes after S Gurumurthi, considered to be among RSS “intellectuals” and one of the authors of the controversial BJP task force report on black money, reportedly wrote to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat complaining about Jaitley’s alleged use of the term “opportunistic” for Hindutva..

However, while reiterating that Hindutva is non-negotiable, the Sangh has made it clear that it stands with Jaitley on the matter.

7 Comments

Sid Harth9 comments 9 likes received

7 comments

raghavendra r pawar 3 hours ago

Jaitely clarified his remark but Congress is not ready to buy that and want to make use of this to damage his personality and reducing his influence in his party. Even though if has delivered such statement its true because they use Hindutva sentiment to consolidate vote and for that take all the necessary actions and finds the controversial religious issues to keep people to aware always of what injustice occurred and how to get rid of that. But now people (electorates) are clevered and wouldn’t listen and accept everything simply and cast their vote under any kidn of influence (apart from buying votes). Witnessed by last two parliamentary election clarifies that needed and want real progression and development instead chanting cliché and progangada’s.

Vivek Desai 5 hours ago

Ha haaa! RSS is the worst double speaking organization in the world (besides the most racist!)! Hmm! its amazing how they are buying Jaitley’s statement!! These sick minded oppurtunists are exactly the kind of people that will drive genocides in the name of ‘Hindutva’ and when trying to save their own would even defend ones who denounce it..such freakin hypocrites! But this is exactly the behavior we expect from terror organizations, that are really about power when it comes down to it! All their extremist religious affections go up in air, when power is at stake!!..lol

eliasm 8 hours ago

The chef is right. Jaitely is right hyphocratically. The taster is wrong .The consumer is wrong. The voter got cheated.

Sid Harth 10 hours ago

Mohan Bhagwat could make a career in apologizing. Let me quote him. The RSS chief said he did not think Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi had done any wrong during the 2002 riots in the State and there was no need for him to apologise.

“Why should he [Modi] apologise? He has done no wrong … I am told that the speed with which riots were controlled is commendable …”

Mr. Bhagwat ruled out a settlement of the Ayodhya dispute by allowing a temple and a mosque to come up at the disputed spot. He did not agree with BJP leader L.K. Advani who had described the demolition as a “national shame.”

Have a nice day.

…and I am Sid Harth

Abhinav Singh 13 hours ago

RSS has condemed sudarshan’s comment.. and apologized also.. wat else u want Sid Harth? did sonia regreted when she called advani as videhsi(foreigner).

Hundreds of activists of the saffron brigade attacked the Headlines Today office building in New Delhi after the channel exposed about their functionaries’ terror links.“What happened in Hyderabad’s [Mecca] Masjid and what is happening in other mosques hasn’t been done by the ISI. It was our people who were involved.”

Titled Major Upadhaya. wma, this audio file in Malegaon blast suspect (and self-styled Shankaracharya) Dayanand Pande’s laptop shows why the CBI, which is patting itself on the back for cracking the Ajmer Sharif dargah and Mecca Masjid 2007 blasts, should have solved these cases last year. In the recording, Major Ramesh Upadhyaya (Retd.) is heard planning out the 2008 Malegaon blast that killed six and injured over 70.

Other recordings recovered from Pande’s laptop reveal that the blast was just a small part of the terror outfit Abhinav Bharat’s diabolical gameplan. The radical organisation was even in talks with groups based in Nepal and Israel to achieve its stated goal of establishing a ‘pure’ Hindu Rashtra. This, as well as the other sinister designs of the Hindutva terror brigade, are stored in recordings on Pande’s laptop, which was recovered by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) led by Hemant Karkare in 2008.

Another recording has Delhi Hindu Mahasabha chief Ayodhya Prasad Tripathi talking about his links with an anti-Islamic group based in the UK. “We are in regular touch with Stephen Gaus in England. He is a dreaded anti-communist and anti-Islamic. His units are growing rapidly in France, Germany, England and America,” Tripathi is heard saying. In yet another recording, Malegaon blast ‘mastermind’ Lt Col Shrikant Prasad Purohit talks about contacting King Gyanendra of Nepal for the training and shelter of the Abhinav Bharat men.

Then, Pande mentions using the services of a British woman who works as a secretary in the United Nations to get the ‘Hindu Government in exile’ registered in the UN. Purohit, a Military Intelligence man, is heard talking about starting a military school in every state, where recruits would be given rifle training during the summer.

He tells an as-yet unidentified man that the school could be used to hide people in case of “any police action”. The colonel goes on to say that the Sangh’s name should not be linked in any way to the schools. “We have to assume such a name that is deceptive. We will work under the name ‘Bastion Guards.’

There is nothing related to the Sangh. The saffron flag is also not there,” he says on tape. In another conversation, Purohit admits that the blasts (Mecca Masjid and Ajmer Sharif) had been carried out by people he knew. The transcripts show not just how dangerous the men were but also why the investigations should have been taken over by central intelligence agencies immediately. “Listen to the tapes and you’ll understand why these men should be charged with sedition and waging war against the state,” said a former Maharashtra ATS officer involved in the investigations. The officer added that what the CBI is claiming as its findings had come to light during ATS investigations in 2008 itself. ATS chief Hemant Karkare, who was killed in the 26/11 attacks, was under tremendous pressure not to dig deep into the Malegaon case. “Both the opposition and some ministers in the state government were not happy with Karkare’s investigations.

A senior state cabinet minister in the Congress-NCP government known for his opposition to dance bars had blasted Karkare for the investigations just a week before his death,” said a source. The involvement of politicians and army officers in the Abhinav Bharat operations is perhaps why Karkare was pulled up. A witness in the Malegaon case said that a ‘Colonel Dhar’ (later identified as Lt Col Bappaditya Dhar) was present in an Abhinav Bharat meeting. Purohit had also named several officers.

“There are many respected men who are not there today,” Purohit is learnt to have said, adding, “There is a Col Raikar, Col Shailesh Raikar, a Major Nitin Joshi, and a Col Hasmukh Patel.” The ATS is learnt to have interrogated Raikar and Dhar extensively but could not move against them as it did not have a watertight case. But it says that the Army should have stepped in and conducted an inquiry. The transcripts show how the ATS was hampered because of the large number of suspects spread across different states. As an ATS officer puts it, it would be a mistake to treat the Malegaon case as an aberration. The inter-linkages between the prime suspects in the terror attacks have shown that the ATS officer, indeed, is right.

Why then was the CBI sleeping over the information Karkare had recovered before attaining martyrdom on 26/11?

1. Indresh Kumar, RSS

Linked to the blasts accused probed for: Close links with Sunil Joshi and Devender Gupta

RSS national executive member and close associate of Mohan Bhagwat, the sarsanghchalak, ‘ Indreshji’ is one of the Sangh Parivar’s main strategists. He is alleged to have been the major force behind communalising the Amarnath agitation in 2008 and also mobilising the Madhesis in Nepal against the Maoists. He launched the Muslim Ekta Manch to rally together ‘ nationalist’ Muslims.

Investigating agencies are examining his links with Devendra Gupta, key accused in the 2007 Ajmer Sharif bombing. Also being probed are his ties with Sunil Joshi, suspected to be the bomber behind the Mecca Masjid and Ajmer Sharif blasts.

The main suspect in the 2007 blasts, this RSS pracharak was a friend of Malegaon accused Pragya Thakur and also faced the charge of murdering a local Congress leader. He was close to Swami Aseemanand, who had warned him of the imminent threat to his life post the blasts. Joshi had said to his friends that his mentor was Indresh Kumar. Investigating agencies are probing Joshi’s hand in the Amritsar- Lahore Samjhauta Express blasts in February 2007.

Born Sudhakar Udaybhan Dwivedi, he has taken on many names. He started life as Swami Amrutnand Devtirth and then took on the more pious- sounding title of Shankaracharya and settled in Kashmir.

All the terror meetings were held in his presence and all the accused addressed him as ‘ swamiji’. His habit of recording all meetings and saving them on his laptop proved to be his undoing. The recordings are being used as evidence against him and his cohorts. Apart from these audio and video clips, cops have also found a cache of obscene pictures and clips that he had downloaded from the Net.

Upadhyaya retired from the Army in 1988 and was the chief of the BJP’s ex-servicemen’s cell in Mumbai. The Maharashtra ATS claims he was a mere ‘member’ of the organisation, but from the tapes recovered from Pande it seems he was present in all meetings where the Malegaon bombing was planned. He used to interact at length with both Purohit and Pande. For all his talk of a ‘pure’ Hindu Rashtra, Upadhyaya had been arrested twice for stalking, threatening and posting indecent remarks about a woman whom he wanted to marry.

6. Pragya Thakur

Sannyasin with an unholy obsession with bloodshed accused of: September 2008 Malegaon blast

L.K. Advani might have defended her by claiming that she was a sadhvi but there was nothing holy about Pragya’s thoughts and actions. Advani’s claim was torn to shreds by the ATS, whose recorded telephone intercepts reveal how Pragya was disappointed when she heard that “just three people” had been killed in the Malegaon. Her involvement in Abhinav Bharat’s activities may not have been much, but she is suspected to have procured the explosives for the Malegaon blast. She didn’t get along with Purohit as both claimed to be leaders of the ‘Hindu Rashtra’ movement.

7.Shrikant P Purohit, Lt Col, military intelligence arms procurer;

Gun-runner on the side accused of: September 2008 Malegaon blast

A fitness fanatic who knows four languages, the former Military Intelligence officer is said to be the brain behind the operation. The ATS believes Purohit had procured weapons and even RDX from an Army depot. Ironically, the man who wore Army colours is heard declaring in the Pande tapes that he doesn’t believe in the Constitution. The ATS says he knows about the other blasts and the people who carried them out, but he refuses to talk. Purohit was not averse to making money on the side. He was into gun-running as well.

8.Swami Aseemanand

Mastermind Ã¤nd good friend of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi

The ATS does not list him as an accused, but he’s very much under the scanner. The Kolkata native, known as Jatin Chatterjee before he donned his ochre robes, came to the Dangs district of Gujarat for a campaign to bring Christian converts back into the Hindu fold. A respected leader of the RSS, Aseemanand is said to be very close to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, which may be why the ATS has not been able to catch up with him. His interrogation will provide the ATS clues to piece together the Hindutva terror jigsaw.

Very little is known about these shadowy characters except that they’re both from Indore and are suspected to be the bombers in the Malegaon, Mecca Masjid and Ajmer Sharif blasts. They’ve eluded the CBI, which has declared a reward of Rs 10 lakh on each of them. Dange is also known as Parmanand; Kalsangra’s aliases are Ramji or Vishnu Patel. Both are around 35 years old and suspected to be major players in the Hindutva terror network.

10.Ashok Varshney and Ashok Berry, RSS

Linked to blasts accused of: Providing assistance to Devendra Gupta

The two are being investigated by CBI for their alleged role in the Ajmer Sharif and Mecca Masjid blasts. Varshney, a former RSS prant pracharak in Jharkhand, had allegedly sourced and handed over two SIM cards to Devendra Gupta, a key accused in the Ajmer Sharif bombing. These cards were allegedly used to stage the May 18, 2007, Mecca Masjid blast. The ATS’s of Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh and the CBI have grilled both Varshney and Berry, an RSS central committee member, many times since June 21 both in Lucknow and Delhi. Both Varshney and Berry had acknowledged their association with Gupta. Before his arrest on April 30, Gupta had stayed at Varshney’s Kanpur home.

11. B.L. Sharma ‘Prem’, BJP

Planning big on the mass conversions of muslims accused of: One of Abhinav Bharat’s founders. Close to Pandey and Purohit

Also known as Prem Singh Sher after he embraced the Khalsa Panth in 1999, Sharma is a two-time BJP Member of the Lok Sabha. He was first elected from East Delhi in 1991 and then in 1996. He fought the last parliamentary elections in 2009 from Delhi North East, but lost to Jai Prakash Aggarwal. In a video recording accessed by Headlines Today, he is seen in discussions with Pandey and Purohit on starting a terror movement against Muslims. The meeting is believed to have taken place at a Nashik temple in 2007.

12.Rakesh Dhawade and Sharad Kunte

Linked with bomb making accused of: Dhawade, of imparting bomb training. He accuses Kunte of being engaged in the same task

A research fellow at the Institute of Research and Development in Oriental Studies (IRDOS), Pune, Dhawade has been charged by the Maharashtra ATS with “imparting training and exploding a bomb in Parbhani and Jalna”. Dhawade is said to be a ‘weapons collector’ because of his vast collection of antique arms. In a statement recorded before a magistrate, Dhawade has named Sharad Kunte, a Pune professor who teaches at the Narsooji Wadia College, as the man who taught students to make bombs. Kunte was the VHP’s Pune unit president for many years. He has been questioned by the ATS, but not booked.

The Indore resident, who is among the 14 who have been charged with the murder of a local Congress leader in August 2003, was picked up by the Rajasthan ATS from the Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh on May 14. The ATS got wind of him after it had questioned the Ajmer blast accused, Devendra Gupta and Chandrashekhar Borad, who had been arrested on April 29. Sunil Joshi, deceased suspected bomber, was also one of the accused in the Congress leader’s murder. Sharma is out on bail in the case. The common link that binds all of them is their loyalty to the fiery sadhvi, Pragya Thakur.

United to divide BharatThe key people who were prepared to go to any length to wreck India for their dream to establish a Hindu Rashtra.

Read Surfers’ Comments

Posted by: C. K.Siliguri | August 25, 2010 | 13:16 IST

Terrorists do not have any religion, and therefore, the act of terrorism cannot be linked with any religion. Only condemning terrorism will not bring any fruitful results, what is needed is strong action against any act of terrorism, at any place, by anyone or by any organisation.

Posted by: Manjakettiindia | July 20, 2010 | 00:51 IST

too late India today too late an avid internet user and blogger could easily point out what was going on from the infiltration of the sangh into the internet after the 2004 debacle to the paid rss agents who use atleast 5 browsers with different aliases just to reinforce a point when it comes to the minorities,dalits or the hindutva pride my friends and relatives are ven part of this evil nexus if u want know what im talking about go to mr.advanis poll website,the hindu jangruthi samithi and any news website earlier I was worrid that it was the true view of the majority of the people then when i looked into their posts carefully the same spelling mistakes the same rants the same rhetoric and the same catchphrases from different people across the time period of 4 years,support for Hindu nepal,destruction of islam and reconversion of the christians was their main propaganda If i remember correctly your magazine /channel had the same views against these issues why the change mr aaron poorie thought you can differentiate the bjp from the sangh ,if by any case you thought of that you were thinking of separating milk from water.

Surfer SpeakIndia Today » Comment

Tapes reveal saffron terror’s dark secrets

Terrorists do not have any religion, and therefore, the act of terrorism cannot be linked with any religion. Only condemning terrorism will not bring any fruitful results, what is needed is strong action against any act of terrorism, at any place, by anyone or by any organisation.

C. K., Siliguri | August 25, 2010 | 13:16 IST

too late India today too late an avid internet user and blogger could easily point out what was going on from the infiltration of the sangh into the internet after the 2004 debacle to the paid rss agents who use atleast 5 browsers with different aliases just to reinforce a point when it comes to the minorities,dalits or the hindutva pride my friends and relatives are ven part of this evil nexus if u want know what im talking about go to mr.advanis poll website,the hindu jangruthi samithi and any news website earlier I was worrid that it was the true view of the majority of the people then when i looked into their posts carefully the same spelling mistakes the same rants the same rhetoric and the same catchphrases from different people across the time period of 4 years,support for Hindu nepal,destruction of islam and reconversion of the christians was their main propaganda If i remember correctly your magazine /channel had the same views against these issues why the change mr aaron poorie thought you can differentiate the bjp from the sangh ,if by any case you thought of that you were thinking of separating milk from water.

Manjaketti, india | July 20, 2010 | 00:51 IST

The word “HINDU TERRORISM” is in itself wrong interception to make you cant malign the millions of Hindu who are world’s most tolerant community. which community don’t have extremist .The R.S.S is a most disciplined organization we find in india.its NOT TEJ ITS SANSANIKHEJ.

VIVEK SINGH, GUJRAT | July 19, 2010 | 10:07 IST

It seems this story has been planted and being propogated by India today group to change their “Image’. As for long the group was seen to be anti-congress. Inorder to change the Image they have decided to target RSS and get the sympathy from Congress’s Madam and R ….. Baba.

sara, indore | July 19, 2010 | 00:23 IST

honestly muslims r mere targets nd victims in their own nation wat a shame nd most importantly no religion propogates violence these violence spreadin entities r not humans but ANIMALS who fear peace for no reason….. SHAME ON U

Proud Indian, Hyderabad | July 18, 2010 | 22:26 IST

Initially, some SIMI activists were arrested in connection with the Mecca Masjid blasts. The court acquitted them saying that the prosecution could not prove their culpability. The court also admonished the Andhra police for carrying out the investigation in a most haphazard manner. Andhra was and is having a Congress government and the police there was receiving orders from the Congress government. Mumbai ATS arrested Sadhwi Pragya Singh in connection with the 2008 Malegaon blast. To make the job of the ATS easier, Sadhwi Pragya, who was receiving advice from a senior military strategist, left a motorbike registered in her name at the blast site for making her own arrest very easy for the ATS!!! The Mumbai ATS also said that even the Samjhauta Express blast was the handiwork of ï¿½Hindu Terroristsï¿½, much to the embarrassment of the IB which had always been putting the blame for the Samjhauta Express blast on Pakistan. Interestingly, the ATS did not even conduct any investigation over the Sadhwi’s statement that the bike was sold to an ABVP activist, who was later killed by some SIMI activists more than two years ago. After the Kandhamal riots in Orissa, the UPA government at the centre was under pressure, both from internal secularists and international Christians. The Mumbai ATS is receiving its orders from the Congress-NCP government. Recently, the Rajasthan ATS apprehended some RSS activists for the Ajmer blasts, after Congress came to power. I think that the RSS should thank Ajmal Kasab for letting himself caught alive after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. Otherwise, the secular media and political parties would have unearthed some evidence to link ï¿½Hindu Terroristsï¿½ to the Mumbai terror attacks also. Remember that the secular governments have still not accepted that Ishrat Jehan was a LeT operative even though David Headley had confirmed that to the NIA during questioning.

N.V.SANKARAN, THERISSUR, KERALA | July 18, 2010 | 21:21 IST

The allegation of terror against RSS is not new. Since our independence, RSS and its affiliates using different names has never believed in oneness of India and its constitution. In every generation of this hateful organization since 1947, we have seen evidence of animosity towards citizens of India practicing religion other than theirs. However, The most alarming part of today’s RSS is how they are reaching out to Israel to develop international terror links to harm India. Remember Babuji had cautioned us about Israel and warned us about RSS by giving ultimate sacrifice with his life.

Samiruddin, USA | July 18, 2010 | 21:02 IST

Is India Today paid by missionaries and/or Sonia? If so, I expect India Today to have enough moral courage to admit it with details or does India Today believe that “Blessed are the cowards, for they shall inherit the earth”?

Indian, USA | July 18, 2010 | 19:00 IST

Public execution of all these people. Ban RSS, VHP and BJP. Peace peace peace

AK, USA | July 18, 2010 | 17:37 IST

A Hindu Rashtra is the only solution for india’s socio-cultural development….. However Violence cannot be tolerated at any cost.. Hinduism should be spread like that of shankaracharya to every corners of india…especially Bengal where there is an alarming Bangladeshi islamic migrant population.

India-Today is hell bent on defaming Hindu community. I was a regular reader of India-Today. Not anymore.

Sanjay D, Singapore | July 18, 2010 | 15:44 IST

I oppose any kind of violence.Anything should be with in the purview the Constitution of India. All the criminals involved in the above said terror acts should be punished. Awareness and unity of Hindus is the necessity of the day.Lack of unity among the Hindus only brought all the disasters India faced in its History.Akhand Bharath of Late VD Savarkar is impossible now.But we have to protect J&K and control the disturbances in the North East and see that there is no further danger of division to this Khand Bharath(Partitioned).If it is proved that above individuals are responsible for the killings Etc stated above and are in contact with the foreign elements they can be punished as per Law.The UPA should shun its Muslim Appeasement Policy.Then all this will disappear because Hindus wherever they are champions of development not destruction. Take USA or UK and other European Countries.

Karavadi Raghava Rao, Vijayawada- | July 18, 2010 | 15:35 IST

people who killed Mahatma Gandhi were also members of Abhinav Bharat this is mentioned in the book “Let us kill Gandhi “written by the grandson of Gandhi ji Mr. T. Gandhi. Leopards seldom change their spots.

g sharma, DXB | July 18, 2010 | 14:50 IST

If this is state of affairs this rss should be banned. BJP should break relation with RSS and should start new with their own new political agenda. You never know how many such RSS people are sitting in BJP holding important posts.

vijai lugani, munich | July 18, 2010 | 14:07 IST

We don’t need Pakistan or enemies when we have so many of them in India, the genetically descendents of Raja Ambhi, and Vibhikshan.

Surendra, Najaf Garh ND/HRYN | July 18, 2010 | 12:19 IST

Hinduism has been made redundant by all the saints, baba, mahants, who are preaching for themselves only. They have no love for their faith and religion. They are not spearheading any movement for safety of Hindus. They are now being targeted by the Christian govt of India so that they would come out from their cocoons and go to the nook and corners of India to enlighten all the Hindus on the perils that is coming. Now Congress is meaning Christian. Many soothsayers had predicted that we would be ruled by Christians once again and that is going to happen very soon. We have seen that almost all the saints are rich, wealthy with high leaving in their mahals and cottages. They are having their own airplanes and helicopters. They have invested their wealth in share markets and companies. They are fooling the people all over India by organising discourse and speeches but not able to enlighten the Hindus about the perils. They are living a luxurious life. If Hinduism is in peril it is only due to these babas and mahants. They need to leave the luxury and go all over the country to enlighten all the masses about the real dangers to them from these pseudo-secularists, Christians, Islamists and non-believers like leftists. It is the leftists who had ruined the country in the last 63 years. They have played a role of messiah for the working class and farmers in speeches only but did not worked in reality. Let all our Hindu saints, sadhus, babas, mahants, shankaracharya go to every and each corner of India and enlighten the masses about the calamities and perils which is coming to us.

muslim bhagawat, patna | July 18, 2010 | 11:42 IST

Hinduism is the most soft religion in world. It has no ideology and characters. It is the most stupid religion in which all the stupid people are behaving like creatures. These Hindus have no love for their god and religion. When we compare Hinduism with Christianity and Islam we see that Hinduism have no strength and attitude. Hindus are passive, lousy and impotents. Muslims had ruled for thousands of years and Christians have also ruled them 300 years. Now the Nehrus are ruling India by proxy. Indira Gandhi was a Nehru before her wedding with Feroze Khan. Indira Gandhi had married Feroze Khan, a Muslim in love marrigae. But Feroze Khan name was changed to Feroze Gandhi when the marriage was accepted by Nehru and Gandhi and Gandhiji renamed him as Gandhis, the sons of indira Gandhi are Mulsims. Now we are ruled by Muslims but never objected to the rule but vote them overwhelmingly. It has been stupid to be a Hindu. India is a country of all religions.

The mob broke glasspanes and destroyed property at TV Today office on Friday, July 16, 2010.The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on Saturday regretted the damage caused to “some small property” of TV Today office in New Delhi due to the protest against the media house.

“It was a peaceful demonstration. We are sorry that flower pots and some small property were damaged. We would have been happier had these damages not taken place,” RSS leader Ram Madhav said about Friday’s attack on TV Today office.

He claimed that though there were 2,000 people there, no one was injured.

Madhav, however, asserted that though several newspapers had reported on the alleged involvement of Sangh leaders in terror activities, the news channel had “violated norms of decent journalism”.

Suspected Sangh Parivar activists had allegedly barged into the office of TV Today office in New Delhi on Friday and vandalised the lobby after it telecasted a sting operation on an alleged plot to assassinate Vice President Hamid Ansari.

The activists allegedly stormed into the building housing Headlines Today and its sister channel Aaj Tak. They damaged furniture in the office lobby, police said.

Read Surfers’ Comments

Posted by: ashkar kkdubai | July 18, 2010 | 16:39 IST

verygood ,,,,they know how to say sory

Posted by: DivyeshUSA | July 18, 2010 | 15:10 IST

BJP is risking of becoming a Shiv Sena clone by thriving the communal hatred. It is also degrading the party by attacking the freedom of press and enjoying glories in violence. BJP leaders like Advani and Modi are the most arrogant people and they use abusive language for their political opponents particularly during election campaigns (Gadkari uses any time). Use of harsh and cheap language shows the culture of a person and the party discipline. BJP is becoming more of a regional party losing its status as the national party.

very good ,,,,they know how to say sory

ashkar kk, dubai | July 18, 2010 | 16:39 IST

BJP is risking of becoming a Shiv Sena clone by thriving the communal hatred. It is also degrading the party by attacking the freedom of press and enjoying glories in violence. BJP leaders like Advani and Modi are the most arrogant people and they use abusive language for their political opponents particularly during election campaigns (Gadkari uses any time). Use of harsh and cheap language shows the culture of a person and the party discipline. BJP is becoming more of a regional party losing its status as the national party.

Divyesh, USA | July 18, 2010 | 15:10 IST

Ram Madhavji, why should we apologize people are appreciating attack on this bloody channel, these media people should learn a lesson from people lest they would continue to blackmail innocent with false propaganda, a cbi enquiry should be conducted on properties owned by media people.

chandra, hyderabad | July 18, 2010 | 12:12 IST

The Sangh’s behaviour confirms its fascist character. No amount of playing with words will help.

V K Das, Lucknow | July 18, 2010 | 07:01 IST

if they would have done to someone else they would have received fatwa for their head.

pankaj gupta, delhi | July 18, 2010 | 06:49 IST

they had apologised for what they have done, don’t you think it is your turn to apologise for carrying out a malicious campaign on them.

ram, hyderabad | July 18, 2010 | 02:23 IST

If Hindutva is serious then so is cash for vote: Jaitley to Cong

Agencies

Tags : WikiLeaks reports, cash for vote, Hindutva. Arun Jaitley

Posted: Mon Mar 28 2011, 17:00 hrs

Guwahati:

BJP leader Arun Jaitley had allegedly told a US diplomat that Hindutva is an ‘opportunistic issue’ for his party.

Stating that phraseology like ‘opportunistic’ was inconsistent with BJP’s views, senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley today hoped Congress would take Wikileaks seriously on the ‘cash for vote’ issue.

“Any comment or use of phrase used by a US diplomat such as ‘opportunistic’ is completely inconsistent to views expressed by us. It is inconsistent to our phraseology or ideology. It is neither our view nor our ideology,” Jaitley told reporters here.

“In response to our Congress friends (accusation)… now that they are taking WikiLeaks so seriously, I hope that they take it equally seriously on the cash for vote,” he said.

Asked about his reaction to Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal slamming him for his remarks on Hindutva, he replied cryptically “Then they will probably have a lot more to answer.”

“I clarified two days ago that some of the views in reference to me, particularly in relation to denial of visa to Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi by the US government is our strong position against terrorism and infiltration in the northeast. We are strongly expressing nationalistic views and this has been our course of ideology from the beginning”, the leader of the opposition in Rajya Sabha said.

Thankyou for submitting your comment. Comments are checked and hence may not show up immediately.

Lady, RSS/BJP/Arun Jaitley, protests too much. A clear sign of Arun Jaitley and gang found with their pants down. Why deny the obvious? Whitewashing, spin-doctoring, hair-splitting, semantic jugglery are all pointing to a single fact. “Hindutva is as dead and extinct as a Dodo bird.” Mark my words.

…and I am Sid Harth

Rajasthan HC issues notice to Centre, state govts

Agencies

Tags : Rajasthan High Court, rail roko, Jat agitation

Posted: Mon Mar 28 2011, 21:30 hrs

Jaipur:

The Rajasthan High Court on Monday sought explanation within a week from the Centre and state government, as to why elected representatives participating in or supporting agitations which led to rail and road blockades, should not be booked for waging war against the country.

A single judge bench of Justice Munishwar Nath Bhandari issued show cause notices to the Central Home Ministry, Chairman of Railway Board, Chief Secretary of Rajasthan, Director General of Police (Rajasthan) and General Manager, NW Railway, in the wake of agitations in recent past during the Jat stir as well as the Gujjar agitation that crippled train and road transportation in the state.

The Court passed this order on a writ petition filed by Kashi Purohit, a resident of Jaipur through his counsel Abhinav Sharma.

Sharma said that the right to travel across the territory of the country was a fundamental right but that does not mean that any person agitating for a demand has rights to block the public transport system.

“We brought to the notice of the court that Rajasthan being a state having international boarders, is required to have great significance from defence point of view and agitations like ‘rail roko’ or ‘road roko’ posed a national threat to the country.

“Even elected representatives, chief ministers, Member Parliaments and MLAs supporting such agitations need to be booked for waging war against the country, treason and need to be detained under National Security Act,” Sharma said.

The petition also stated any criminal case once registered against any person found involved in such agitation should not be dropped and no arms confiscated from such agitating persons should be returned.

PAC summons Niira Radia, Ratan Tata on Apr 4 in 2G case

Agencies

Tags : 2G scam, Niira Radia, Ratan Tata, A Raja

Posted: Mon Mar 28 2011, 19:43 hrs

New Delhi:

Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee has summoned corporate lobbyist Niira Radia and Tata Group Chairperson Ratan Tata on April 4 to discuss their role in the 2-G Spectrum allocation case.Sources said the PAC will meet on April 4 and 5 to discuss the 2-G spectrum allocation case which had led to the resignation of Telecom Minister A Raja. He was later arrested and is still in custody.

“Niira Radia and Ratan Tata have been called on April 4 to discuss their role in the 2-G allocation. On April 5, representatives of four companies – Swan Telecom, Reliance, Airtel and Unitech – have been asked to present themselves,” they said.

After editors of ‘Outlook’ and ‘Open’ magazines were called in the 2-G spectrum case to question them on the revelations made in their respective publications about tapes regarding Radia’s telephonic conversations with captains of industry and important journalists, it was clear that she would be summoned by the PAC.

PAC Chairperson Murli Manohar Joshi as well as several members of the panel had expressed “satisfaction and happiness” with the deposition made by Vinod Mehta (Outlook) and Manu Joseph (Open).

The tapes brought to light Radia allegedly lobbying with journalists and important people to influence formation of the UPA-II cabinet, especially the Telecom portfolio. Radia is allegedly heard in the tapes making a case for Raja to get the telecom portfolio and ensure that Dayanidhi Maran (also of DMK) is kept out.

Ratan Tata also figures in some of these purported conversations with Radia.

Representatives of four key players and alleged beneficiaries, namely Reliance (Anil Ambani Group), Airtel, Swan Telecom and Unitech, have been summoned on April 5.

BANGALORE: Beleaguered chief minister B S Yeddyurappa can heave a sigh of relief — at least for the time being. The Lokayukta police, who are looking into corruption and land grab cases involving Yeddyurappa, his sons and his son-in-law, have decided not to file an FIR against the CM immediately — but after they complete investigations, which may take a month or two.

“In consultation with legal experts, we have decided to take up investigation first to gather enough evidence before filing the FIR,” additional director general of police (ADGP), Lokayukta, R K Dutta told The Times of India on Monday.

The investigation will be initially taken up by in-charge Lokayukta SP Rangaswamy, who is likely to be replaced on the return of Madhukar Shetty. Shetty is on leave till April 5, but sources said he has already informed the government that he will be extending his leave to pursue a Ph.D.

On March 25, the court had asked the Lokayukta to investigate the case involving Yeddyurappa and his sons and submit the report by May 5. “We will try our best to complete the probe by then,” Dutta said.

Earlier, the Lokayukta police were in a dilemma whether to file an FIR against the CM or just investigate the case. Initially, they said they would treat the case like any other, which meant an FIR would be filed and investigation would follow.

However, legal experts and the chief of Lokayukta’s legal cell told Lokayukta police that the section under which the case has been referred to them (Section 202(1) of Criminal Procedure Code) does not allow them to file an FIR before investigation. Some experts also cited Supreme Court and Karnataka High Court citations and strictures, which state that police cannot file an FIR against the accused when a court has referred the case under Section 202 (1) of CrPC.

Consequently, the Lokayukta has decided to go according to the advice of legal luminaries, much to the relief of Yeddyurappa and his family members.

WHAT EXPERTS SAY

While advocate C H Hanumantharaya, representing the complainants against Yeddyurappa, has been insisting that an FIR be registered as per the Karnataka Police Manual, former advocate general B V Acharya feels the investigating authority cannot register an FIR under Section 202(1).

Yeddyurappa’s lawyer Sandeep Patil, too, agrees that the investigating authorities cannot register an FIR in this case. V N Nagaraj, another leading advocate, said there is a vast difference between an FIR filed at a police station under Section 156(3) of the CrPC and an FIR filed by an investigating agency that has been referred to it by the court under Section 202(1). Advocate Ramesh Krishnan said it is not mandatory to file an FIR.

WHAT DOES SEC 202(1) CrPC SAY?

Any magistrate, on receipt of a complaint of an offence which he is authorised to take cognizance of, may either inquire into the case himself or direct an investigation to be made by a police officer or by such other person as he thinks fit, for the purpose of deciding whether or not there is sufficient ground for proceeding.

toiblr.reporter@timesgroup.com

Comments (5)

Sid Harth Harth (USA)0 min ago (10:47 AM)

Please allow me to quote. The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (CrPc) 202. Postponement of issue of process. (1) Any Magistrate, on receipt of a complaint of an offence which he is authorised to take cognizance or which has been made over to him under section 192, may, if he thinks fit, postpone the issue of process against the accused, and either inquire into the case himself or direct an investigation to be made by, a police officer or by such other person as he thinks fit, for the purpose of deciding whether or not there is sufficient ground for proceeding: Provided that no such direction for investigation shall be made, – (a) Where it appears to the Magistrate that the offence complained of is triable exclusively by the Court of Sessions or (b) Where the complaint has not been made by a court, unless the complainant and the witnesses present (if any) have been examined on oath under section 200.(2) In an inquiry under sub-section (1), the Magistrate may, if he thinks fit, take evidence of witness on oath:Provided that if it appears to the Magistrate that the offence complained of is triable exclusively by the Court of Session, he shall call upon the complainant to produce all his witnesses and examine them on oath. (3) If an investigation under sub-section (1) is made by a person not being a police officer, he shall have for that investigation all the powers conferred by this Court on an offer in charge of a police station except the power to arrest without warrant.

Vision (Mumbai)1 hr ago (09:00 AM)

Easy pointing fingers at Lokayukt. CAn you show any black dot in Santosh Hegdes Career? He is a Man with Mission. He know just filing fir without gathering evidence will open padoras box all over the country.Disagree (1)

Murty (USA)4 hrs ago (05:56 AM)

I appreciated the great effort taken by Lokayukta, but I wonder why Gowda family is not visible to Lokayukta? There is clear disproportionate amount of wealth with Gowda(HDK, and HDevegowda) and Lokayukta do not even seem to have remote plans to investigate it. So how far these Lokayukta is credible?Agree (4)

N.Shekar (Bangalore)5 hrs ago (05:18 AM)

Except for the Supreme court all including, High Court, Lokayukta, lokayukta police can be bribed. That is the only way the CM has survived.Disagree (3)

Vision (Mumbai) replies to N.Shekar56 mins ago (09:51 AM)

Easy pointing fingers at Lokayukt. Can you show any black dot in Santosh Hegde’s Career? He is a Man with Mission. He know just filing fir without gathering evidence will open pandoras box all over the country.Agree (1)Disagree (1)

BANGALORE: The Central Crime Branch ( CCB) have arrested four members of a family — a man and his three sons – for selling government land by forging documents. Among those arrested is a politician who contested the 2009 parliamentary election.

Surendra Babu is facing eight cases of cheating and forgery. All the cases are registered at the Byappanahalli police station. “We are taking steps to book Surendra Babu under the Goonda Act,” police commissioner Shankar Bidari told a news conference.

They are accused of selling land measuring more than 2 acres in Millers Tank Bund area to Yashlakshmi Construction Company, Kolhapur, in 2008 for Rs 45.62 crore. Now, the market value of the land is more than Rs 100 crore.

Bidari said: “We received information about the forgery during December 2010. We verified it and began the investigation in January.”

According to Bidari, the accused had forged the documents mainly with the help of a colour scanner and printer.

“The record of rights did not belong to the accused. The will was tampered with, fake names inserted, and the land conversion order forged. The forged documents say that the amount was deposited in the state treasury on October 24, 1965, and January 18, 1953. Both days were Sundays and government offices were closed,” the commissioner said.

Comments (13)

Recommended (2)

Sid Harth Harth (USA)4 mins ago (11:18 AM)

Please allow me. I am going to relate my personal experience. I was looking for non-agricuture land in and around Nashik, Maharashtra. Indian government had changed their policy then. NRI could buy any such land upto 100 acres. There was not much land in that category available in the immediate vicinity of metropolis. One piece was available around Tryambakeshwar, a famous Hindu pilgrimage center, 18 miles away. Luckily, I found that it belonged to my distant cousin. When I visited him after about fifty years, he was overjoyed. The first question he asked me as to why I wanted it? I quoted government’s permission. He, then, regaled me with stories about real estate agents offering government land parcels near Gangapur earthern dam. Several eager NRIs were duped with fake ownership land records. It seems to me that Karnataka case is not unique. I regret this anecdotal example. My cousin bought this parcel along with his friend from the government with proper papers. It was a forest land. The proceeds from that legitimate sale helped the government to stabilize the local Adivasi population which was in danger of losing their life-sty.le. …and I am Sid Harth

Rajan (Bengaluru)6 hrs ago (04:51 AM)

In Voting Option There should be option for that too “President Rule for India” Accross all states for nexst 20 years atleast

Shree (Shimoga)28 Mar, 2011 12:22 AM

good and I appreciate that. but finally human mind should think about the root cause and proper corrective action. in this case somehow we could identify the cheaters. how about the other cases of same background. since it is happening repeatedly, this needs an effective preventive action. at the end of every effort of police, the question mark on people’s face remains as it is. please please please law makers and regulatory authorities we need permanent solution.Agree (1)

N Krishnamoorthy (Thanjavur)27 Mar, 2011 07:33 PM

Well done! Even in this age of IT and in the IT Capital this happens. This means there is a hand-in-glove operation of certain ‘Babus’. One more ladder climbed by the criminals posing as politicians. And this man happens to be from the party which is making all noise about corruption in the State. JD(S) leaders themselves have looted and ruined the State. I just fail to understand when the Government land records are computarised, why it was not checked? Who are actually behind this heist?Agree (4)

Nagaraj (Bangalore)27 Mar, 2011 04:44 PM

I am very worried about our Karinadu is ruined with corruption. Yadiyurappa is the mighty corrupt fellow while Devegowda and his sons known to have destroyed the state. Daram singh was no better. Which means all these 3 parties BJP, JDS and Congress Parties have failed us. All of them are equally corrupt. It is so sad to hear that we were one of the best states in the country some time ago, and now top for wrong reasons. Bangalore is destroyed with the name of economic Development. Our own people cannot buy sites. very soon we are going to be minorities in our own land. wake up people and get rid of these corrupt leaders. We have had good leaders and known throughout the country. Late D Urs, Nijalingappa, R Hegde, V. Patil, Moily, SMK. have contributed one or the other way to develop Karnataka. Who can clean this state of affiars?Agree (6)Disagree (1)

Manjunath (Bangalore) replies to Nagaraj27 Mar, 2011 09:25 PM

Better vote for persident ruleAgree (4)Disagree (1)

Eswar (Hillsboro) replies to Manjunath28 Mar, 2011 12:20 AM

How can we expect people to join politics.The leaders in Bihar ate only fodder while our leaders in Karnataka can grab the lands that give the fodder also!Agree (2)

Saleem (Bangalore)27 Mar, 2011 01:23 PM

There should be new laws implemented and young blood should be provided an opportunity to serve the country. The old corrupt politicans should be removed totally and severe punishment imposed for corruption and bribery. From Corrupt politician to the officials responsible in herlping them should be held accountable.Agree (4)

sane (bangalore)27 Mar, 2011 10:19 AM

Even in this age of information technology, where the status of all vacant Government lands are readily available with few clicks, the Conmen succeed in deceiving public. How can this be possible without involvement of beureacrats like Registrar of land, local survey dept., and last but not the least, the supremo of JD(S), who is the biggest land grabber himself.Agree (7)Disagree (1)Recommend (2)

V K Mahajan (Gurgaon)27 Mar, 2011 07:42 AM

All the 4 persons should bed tried by fast cout.Besides all assets of these 4 persons and their close relatiuves should be confiscated. The offical person services should be terminated and no pension should be given–These are measures which willrestore confidence in general publicAgree (7)

Vishy (bangalore)27 Mar, 2011 07:36 AM

We need to verify they might have sold Vidhana souda & cubbon park.Agree (1)

Balakrishna Hegde (Bangalore) replies to Vishy27 Mar, 2011 01:03 PM

Ramaiah contested election on JDS ticket. Now we know who is likely to sell Vidhanasoudha if come to power, Gowda and SonsAgree (4)Recommend (2)

Shams Yusuf Halim (Dibrugarh)27 Mar, 2011 06:58 AM

These politicians are criminals and should be punished by law but I don`t understand this country`s laws that make the criminal a ministerAgree (1)Recommend (1)

Asif and Rajiv Agarwal are the directors of Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Pvt Ltd, which reportedly loaned Cineyug a sum of Rs 212 crore. But it was not a straightforward loan and had passed through a maze of transactions.

Shahid Balwa was arrested in February 8, for his alleged involvement in the 2G spectrum scam. He is currently lodged in the Tihar jail.

Swan Telecom is believed to be one of the beneficiaries in the spectrum allotted during former Telecom Minister A Raja’s tenure, who was arrested prior to Balwa and is locked in the same jail.

The others arrested in connection with the case are Raja’s personal secretary RK Chandolia and former Telecom Secretary Siddharth Behuria.

Raja was forced to resign from the Union Cabinet last year after the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) faulted him for undervaluing spectrum to favour companies who were largely ineligible for 2G spectrum, and added that the government had probably lost Rs.1.76 lakh crore in estimated revenue.

Readers’ opinions (5)

Recommended (4)

Sid Harth Harth (USA)

Today is March 29, 2011, if I am not mistaken. If Shahid Usman Balwa, brother of Asif Balwa was already arrested on February 8, and lodged in Tihar jail what kind of investigation CBI was conducting? If a prime investigative agency such as CBI takes enormous time to find goods on alleged criminals no tangible results may come in near or distant future. Might as well outsource the job to overseas agencies like FBI. Perhaps, they would do it for free, if India asks them nicely. It is a crying shame that scandals of immense proportion involving ministers and Babus on one side and acknowledged criminals on the other side keep growing like weeds.

…and I am Sid Harth

Praveen (Edison, NJ)

Only if they arrest kanimozhi the truth will come out from karuna’s coffins. CBI needs to act fast or the Supreme court needs to take out the whip.Agree (2)Recommend (2)

Chan (Mumbai)

Small fry arrested. Big fries are still roaming free. What about them?Agree (2)Recommend (2)

NILESH (india)

DESHDROHI KO MAR DO…………………………….. .Agree (2)Disagree (2)Recommend (2)

Krish (Mumbai)

Dear Editor, Next in line could we expect Mr.Karu, his spouses and Mrs.Kanimozhei. She had said earlier that she will come out clean. Yes, she has to come out clean about the loot and the others involved. Can not avoid any more..Agree (2)Recommend (2)

Writing on new-age working women is a good idea, but this book lacks a context and a framework.

ECONOMIC emancipation for women and the liberating influences brought about by it are issues that have long been debated and discussed. Today, there is no disagreement that denial of equal economic opportunities can be construed as one of the severest forms of discrimination against women. There is still a yawning gap between the constitutional rights envisaged for women and the actual realisation of them. Little wonder then that the Women’s Reservation Bill continues to be a matter of debate even after 16 years, and additionally, there are serious attempts to dilute several existing and important protective provisions for women.

In the centenary year of International Women’s Day, it is perhaps pertinent to look at these issues and the changing relationships at the workplace as they have affected women and their emancipation sought by the women’s movement. The work done by women, and the value, social and economic, accorded to it are other subjects of debate that keep surfacing time and again. Given the strong patriarchal and feudal attitudes that prevail, some are confused about whether the Indian woman has really arrived. The confusion grows when real images and examples of “successful” women who have “made it” despite all odds are shown in various forms in order to convey a message to cynics that the Indian woman is not really badly off, that she has a lot of enterprise, and that through sheer grit and self-determination she is able to achieve much. But maybe this is not the end of the story.

Gita Aravamudan’s Unbound: Indian Women@Work is about the challenges faced by a cross section of new-age working women, a term coined by the author presumably to denote the period following liberalisation and a section of women who entered the job market then. The author, who is no stranger to gender issues (she authored the sensitive Disappearing Daughters: The Tragedy of Female Foeticide), looks into the lives of young women who tell the author how they struggled, coped with, compromised and sometimes rebelled in order to become what they are. The book is a collection of individual experiences cutting across different work sectors. There are journalists, radio jockeys, information technology professionals, brewery entrepreneurs, domestic workers and item girls. To that extent, the book offers variety and some interesting information about the characters. But, in sum, these are all subjective experiences, and the protagonists find equally subjective ways of dealing with them.

Gita Aravamudan’s writing has a certain flow, which is communicative and not intended to stupefy with bombastic words; an easy style that is comfortable but does not provoke or excite the reader intellectually.

It seems the author has tried to look for answers but not hard enough. She concludes one interview with a television media personality with this observation: “She was, in other words, a woman whose unbinding was total and complete. Not many in her generation could hope to achieve what she had accomplished. Not many could aspire to have the kind of freedom she had.” The statements do not inspire, but they do inspire awe. If there is any struggle, it is of the inner self and for self-accomplishment. The problem with using terms such as “unbinding” and giving them an overarching importance and meaning is that a situation to justify the latent gravity in the term has to be created constantly. That is one of the major limitations of the book. It presupposes several things; it predetermines several outcomes in order to justify the title.

Clearly, the book seems to indicate that women do have a choice, provided they assert themselves enough. But the question is whether it is enough to base an understanding on a handful of so-called achievers, strugglers and stragglers, ignoring the vast number of women with low-paid, insecure jobs in the unorganised sector. It is equally important to understand the agencies and factors that shape the conditions in which such women work.

Is it enough to have “individual strength” to deal with the kind of situations mentioned in the book? The samples chosen by the author for her study are mostly educated women, mainly from upper-middle-class families, and some from other privileged backgrounds. They have articulated very typically middle-class concerns. Whether the book was intended to study only mobility and employment trends among upper- and middle-class women and the occasional angst of the item girl who is proud of her sexuality is not clear; to that extent, its scope is limited. Stories of women who work in the most depressing conditions in the unorganised sector would have made the study more interesting.

The tenor of the book gives an impression that nothing has changed fundamentally over the years. There is a certain finality in the tenor in many sections of the book, where the author articulates her own conclusions and views, which, in the absence of a logical trajectory of events, do not appear convincing.

For instance, in the preface, while describing the period of the 1950s and 1960s, the author says that “a silent, almost unnoticed revolution was taking place at the bottom end of the ubiquitous middle class where money was a problem. Educated girls were now viewed as economic assets.” Girls who had graduated from high schools, she writes, began to enter the job market as nurses, teachers, stenographers and bank clerks. But there are no data to support this. There is also no indication that this was region-specific and contingent upon the specific conditions of development and maybe social reform in some States.

In the sectors mentioned in the book, women from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan were definitely not coming out in large numbers to work even in the 1950s and 1960s. They were mostly agricultural workers. Some statements obfuscate the repression and economic pressures in middle-class families. For instance: “The education and autonomy of middle class women had had a trickle down effect. Even working class families were getting their daughters educated and many of these young women were entering the job market. They brought home pay packets that transformed the lifestyle of the family.”

PAUL NORONHA

Women labourers from Maharashtra and the border villages of Karnataka wait for jobs on a pavement in Mumbai. Stories of women who work in the unorganised sector would have made the book more interesting.

The discrimination in education continues even today. A recent national survey on primary education revealed that boys were more likely to be sent to private schools, while girls of the same family went to government schools.

The overall situation is clearly not in black and white and the author does bring out shades of grey occasionally. With a limited understanding of what gender actually means (even her respondents do not seem to know that gender is a social and not merely a biological construct), the author quotes a former chief executive officer of Tesco Hindustan Service Centre as saying: “The capability of the individual matters. Not the gender. As a woman you need to have the confidence that your gender cannot hold you back.” The terms “sex” and “gender” have got mixed up here.

“By the 1970s, women professionals were beginning to appear all over the white collar landscape,” writes Gita Aravamudan. There is no information about the class or caste background of these “women professionals”. It is left to the reader to assume many things, including these details. Though not mentioned in the book, in 1975, the seminal report of the Committee on the Status of Women in India came out, detailing the horrific conditions in which women were located. It would have been useful and informative for the reader had the author given some idea of the historic momentum unleashed by the report and the impetus it gave to the women’s movement and women’s studies in the country. How did these changes come about? Were they structural? Were they reformist? Or was it just the easy availability of opportunities that saw a huge contingent of middle-class women enrol for jobs or in educational institutions?

There is a complete absence in the book of the role played by the women’s movement. Had some women politicians, women’s studies’ scholars and women’s movement activists also been interviewed, it would have thrown a different dimension altogether to the narrative, given the tremendous challenges these women face.

The book picks up momentum somewhere in the middle where there is some detailed discussion on sexual harassment at the workplace. The interviews too are interesting and engaging. There are lots of illustrations of sexual harassment at the workplace involving important people. Overall, it is sympathetic to women, but there is this element of doubt that a good number of high-profile cases could have been fabrications, given the huge out-of-court settlements arrived at.

On occasion the narrative tends to moralise, which is slightly disconcerting. For instance, her interview with Shefali Jariwala, who popularised the Kaanta Laga item song and who then disappeared from television screens, is otherwise very sensitively conducted. The moralising part comes when she speaks about Pearl Miglani, the first woman DJ, “who took her music very seriously… as far removed as you could get from Shefali’s DJ Doll”. Such comparisons are quite unnecessary. There is more moralising elsewhere when she discusses the plight of a young unhappily married professional who suffered guilt despite not having had a “physical relationship” with a colleague.

The graphic details make interesting reading. Gita Aravamudan informs us that Shefali Jariwala went into a depression following the breakdown of her marriage and also because of obesity-related problems, but she subsequently regained her self-confidence. Shefali Jariwala, apparently, was a good student all through (secured 88 per cent in her school final), studied engineering and entered the entertainment industry on her own mettle. The author’s understanding is that Shefali Jariwala’s decline into obscurity and becoming the subject of lewd remarks or sexually loaded comments were an outcome of the way she was portrayed in a leading song-and-dance sequence.

Sexual harassment is not occupation-specific; the degree may vary, it can happen almost anywhere and in any society where the dominant ways of looking at women have not fundamentally changed and where there is a weak enforcement of laws protecting women. Many women who do not do item numbers sometimes face equal, if not more, harassment. Celebrities, after all, do enjoy a certain protective immunity because of their celebrity status compared with ordinary mortals who struggle for a living on a day-to-day basis.

The idea of writing on new-age working women is good. What the book lacks is a context and a framework. Documenting details of people’s lives always makes interesting reading, more so if it happens to be a cross section of “women achievers”. The “achiever” and “loser” models are also constructed stereotypes and reflective of the deeply unequal society we live in. To draw parallels between the lives of a domestic worker and the CEO of a company as if to portray a commonality of issues faced at the workplace and of discrimination obfuscates more than one reality.

BOOKS

Portraits of women

INDU AGNIHOTRI

Showcasing the strengths and limits of a narrowly conceived project of feminist history writing.

THE visible presence of the women’s movement in India over the past several decades has generated an increasing interest in publishing around the subject of women. The institutional response to the women’s movement has led to the introduction of “Women’s Studies” in university curricula across the world. As part of the thrust towards multiculturalism and diversity, many universities offer courses that focus on women’s position in Third World countries. At the same time, there is the advance of diasporic India and a booming Indian economy.

All in all, there is an interest in Indian women. Added to this is the mystique surrounding the rich cultural diversity of the country and what the writer of the volumes under review refers to as “two sharply contrasting aspects” of Indian women, “…the first facade is of the serene, primordial mother Great Goddess, …the other is the clouded face of the domestic handmaiden trailing behind men in life expectancy, nutrition, health, education, pay, and other rights on the subcontinent”.

The interest that the women’s movement aroused has generated research on a range of subjects, and there is ample source material available to undertake complex social analysis from a historical perspective.

The present volumes emerge from an effort by one trained in history to cover the entire gamut of women’s lives in India from very ancient times to the present day – a task that not many professional historians in India would undertake, certainly not in a single publication. But those who approach the subject from more distant shores are emboldened by their apparent familiarity with the country and also the need to explain enigmatic India to others. That perhaps explains the drive to cover themes as vast and diverse as region, environment, gender; Vedic goddesses and women; mothers and wives in the Smriti texts; Buddhist and Jaina nuns and laywomen; women in classical art and literature; the divine feminine: devis, yoginis, taras; queens, saints, courtesans; Muslim women in pre-modern India; women in the colonial era; male reformers and women’s rights; feminists and nationalists and women in India today, all in the course of some 500-odd pages.

The volumes are, undoubtedly, packed with information, collected from a wide range of classical texts and also secondary literature. However, the framework within which this is placed is highly problematic. What does one say about a book which states at the outset that “due to the longevity of Indian history, this study of women is, therefore, divided into two broad chronological sections, that is, the pre-modern era from antiquity to the early medieval Hindu kingdoms and the later era under Turko-Afghan and Mughal dynasties, colonial rule and the independent state after 1947”?

This comes after nearly half a century of debate on historiography among Indian historians with regard to periodisation, as well as the need to write history incorporating perspectives from below, apart from the subaltern encounter. The material presented is organised around four interrelated themes to focus on gender and female sexuality, that is, pre-modern social, religious, cultural, political paradigms of women in male-authored texts; their later resurrection by men and women for contemporary political and social purposes; women’s narratives in their social contexts; and the contentious issues of female agency and objectification.

TRAVERSING VAST GROUND

The book traverses a vast ground. There are pertinent and extensive quotes from classical texts. These are supplemented by and counterposed with women writing that was first highlighted in Women Writing in India edited by Tharu and Lalitha, as well as other, more recent, research. However, the focus remains largely on elite women and hardly any attempt is made to match the information gathered from literary texts with evidence from other sources that would give a clearer picture of women’s lives and the material culture within which these were embedded.

VIRENDER SINGH NEGI

A woman labourer in Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand. A huge amount of information is packed in the two volumes on women’s work, indentured labour and Goa’s experience under Portuguese rule.

While literary sources remain a significant medium for understanding women’s status, lives and conditions in early times, the importance of archaeological sources and the attempt to locate women in concrete material conditions cannot be discounted, as can be seen from Gerda Lerner’s work in the context of Mesopotamia, which pointed to the tremendous scope for this kind of analysis. However, referencing for archaeological sources does not go beyond the first few pages.

The narrative concerning women starts with ancient and classical texts, which “reveal that in the pre-eminent interface between Aryan and local Dravidian-aboriginal cultures, the core value crystallised across the subcontinent. This was the high honour given to female chastity, a virtue whose lustre almost exceeded that of women’s natural intelligence in archaic texts….”

It is as if the author herself is trapped in the typologies that she traces from the texts: heroic, divine, maternal, saintly, victimised, lustful or manipulative. The women retreat into private courtyards and zenanas to emerge as sisters, matriarchs, wives and widows and feminists in the discourse of male reformers on women’s rights and of “Hindu” and “Muslim” nationalists, and as “objects of male political contestations during the Raj; and in the efforts of the reformers who used women’s customary constraints to negotiate their own place in the Raj, making women fodder for the nationalist engine.…”

It is in the chapter on “Women in the Colonial Era”, where the author uses official sources, British parliamentary papers in this case, to discuss issues such as education and indentured labour that the discussion begins on the mass of women’s lives on a more concrete historical plane.

The gap in the framework of the book is aptly summed up in the concluding section of the Introduction titled “Shakti, Saint or Slave”, which argues that a study of women’s experience is validated “simply because historically women’s experiences have been uniquely their own, whether in segregated female spaces or integrated public forums. Their agency or objectification is specific to each era, region, culture, economy, polity, and religion. Thus this book examines the narratives by and about women in the context of their regional history. To study India’s women, we must come to terms with Indian patriarchies and the region’s contradictions of power and pathos, beauty and ugliness, compassion and cruelty, serenity and chaos.”

To an extent, the volumes showcase the strengths and limits of a narrowly conceived project of feminist history writing, which, even though it manages to put together a vast array of facts, supported by textual and even scriptural referencing for understanding women’s status, leaves the reader clueless as to why and how patriarchy persists or what are the linkages between women’s seclusion, exclusion and selective inclusion within the structures of power.

The manner of presentation of facts foregrounds the need for a more contextualised location of the women referred to, outside the scriptures, outside the courtly intrigues and outside their patriarchal configurations and contestations. In other words, the contestation, as the author clearly understands, is at the level of complex political formations wherein caste and class operate to constitute gender differentially. To analyse that a singular focus on patriarchy will not do.

In a sense that marks the challenge for the project of “feminist historiography”. To weave the story of women within the context of social history needs deeper engagement with the socio-historical process, including in more specific ways. For that a “general narrative” on women in India will not do except to underline that patriarchy existed and operated in such a way as to render women unequal through these times.

The fact remains that a huge amount of information, including on women’s work, indentured labour and Goa’s experience under Portuguese rule, is packed in the two volumes. However, the section headings reinforce the pitfalls of opting for titles that may connect to a Western audience. While the author’s familiarity with South India, particularly with the literary and cultural developments in the region, is a strong point in the book, she has failed to build on it to provide an overview of a vast range of regions and subjects.

Since much of our writing in Indian social sciences is focussed on the North, a more specific focus on the South could have been used to advantage. Thus, much of the information garnered is likely to be lost on the reader. The manner of presentation of the facts, which involves moving from the micro level to the complicated weave attempted on a trans-historical plane, is likely to leave a professional historian with a sense of unease.

For example, in the very first chapter, in a section on “Social Matrix”, the discussion on the Adivasis moves from 300 B.C. to the All India Democratic Women’s Association’s documentation of “rape of women from Adivasi or S.T., Scheduled Castes or Dalits (S.C.)”, all in fewer than 10 pages.

The concluding chapter encompasses some contemporary issues such as declining sex ratios, domestic violence, education, employment and the Women’s Reservation Bill. It is supplemented with a who’s who of women activists in the modern period. However, the book lacks a framework and a sense of direction as what to present by way of a conclusion.

The reader is left flummoxed about the contention that is sought to be made, if any. The point is, when history is presented as myth, text, fact and information, all in one, without an attempt to delineate the different layers or to identify these in the context of specific historical structures and processes, it fails to acquire or impart a clear meaning. In the absence of these linkages, the changing forms and nature of patriarchy appear to be reduced to patriarchal bias in the texts and their composers while imperialism/colonialism become a contestation between orientalists, evangelists, conquerors and reformers-nationalists. Thus, the connections are not drawn between historical process and evolving cultural practices or anti-imperialist consciousness, women’s assertion and organisational activity, even where these aspects are mentioned.

Greater patience could have been exercised while editing the volume as some glaring errors such as defining jhum variously as shifting agriculture, rotational horticulture and just agriculture within a space of a few pages, inconsistency in spelling Garos, and repetition on women in the Sultanate period and in the Mughal courts.

Indu Agnihotri is Senior Fellow, CWDS, New Delhi.

BOOKS

Dark days

A.G. NOORANI

A full and permanent record of the Emergency is provided in Era Sezhiyan’s compilation of the reports of the Justice Shah Commission.

ERA SEZHIYAN’S labours for freedom during the Emergency have not received the recognition that is their due. As Member of Parliament he won respect for his studiousness and dignity. Recently, he wrote a fine study on the Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) for the Institute of Social Sciences, New Delhi. It is very appropriate that he should have retrieved the three volumes of the Commission of Inquiry, headed by Justice J.C. Shah, on Indira Gandhi’s proclamation of the fraudulent Emergency and the brutalities and the excesses that followed in its train and published them in full in this volume.

His preface explains why and how he undertook this task. He found on the Internet that Indira Gandhi had recalled copies of the report and had them destroyed. It was a tribute to the quality of its censures. The National Library of Australia had the third and last volume; the School of Oriental and African Studies in London had all three. That is not unprecedented. A student of the Kashmir dispute or the boundary dispute with China will have to seek the records since 1914 from the British Library in London. The National Archives of India will not provide them.

Era Sezhiyan had preserved his copies of the three reports. He has published them here in full as a permanent record of the Emergency, together with some of the important cases that Justice Shah had investigated and commented on and an introduction by Sezhiyan. He raises a pertinent question: Have the records of the Shah Commission been preserved in the National Archives under the Public Records Act, 1993? The commission had taped all the proceedings of the public hearings. A total of 234 tapes were handed over to the Union Home Ministry.

Sezhiyan has provided some details of Indira Gandhi’s misstatement to enrol herself as a voter in the Doddaballapur Assembly Constituency in Karnataka in 1978. She contested and won the Chickmagalur byelection to the Lok Sabha. One hopes Sezhiyan will elaborate on that sorry episode in greater detail, especially the role of R.L. Jalappa. He reproduces in this volume a facsimile of Jalappa’s letter to the Electoral Registration Officer.

Serious questions must be raised and answered on the Shah Commission, including Justice J.C. Shah. To his credit, he spoke during the Emergency to a packed audience at the K.C. College Hall in Mumbai to denounce the 42nd Amendment to the Constitution, a fruit of the Emergency. He ought not to have accepted the assignment to inquire into the Emergency and its excesses.

On December 28, 1979, Justice T.P.S. Chawla of the Delhi High Court delivered a 347-page judgment quashing the prosecution of Indira Gandhi and Pranab Mukherjee for refusing to testify before the Shah Commission. In some 50 pages, Justice Chawla considered the issues of judicial review of the Emergency and the relevance of the oath of office to a Minister’s accountability to law. Those pages reek of error. However, he also questioned the procedure adopted by Justice Shah, and that is a matter which deserves greater attention than it has received. It calls for a thorough and objective study.

THE HINDU ARCHIVES

Indira Gandhi leaving Tis Hazari court after getting bail in February 1978 in a corruption case filed against her during Janata Party rule.

The Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952, has two pertinent provisions. Section 5(2) empowers the commission to require any person “to furnish information on such points or matters” which in its opinion “may be useful for or relevant to” the inquiry. That person is legally bound to furnish the information on pain of punishment. This clearly applies to requisition for information on specific points which the commission requires. They must be set out in the notice itself.

In 1971, the Act was amended advisedly to ensure respect for the rules of natural justice. Section 8 (B) laid down that if the commission “(a) considers it necessary to inquire into the conduct of any person; or (b) is of opinion that the reputation of any person is likely to be prejudicially affected by the inquiry”, it “shall give to that person a reasonable opportunity of being heard in the inquiry”. The commission can form that opinion “at any stage of the inquiry”.

In Indira Gandhi’s case, clearly that stage was the very commencement of the inquiry. As Prime Minister she was directly involved. British Tribunals of Inquiry followed this practice. She was called to speak only after charges against her had been broadcast to the wide world day after day.

The Commission of Inquiry (Central) Rules, 1972, required, by Rule 5(2) (a), that the commission shall issue a notice to every person who in its opinion should be given an opportunity of being heard in the inquiry “to furnish a statement on such matters as may be specified”. This clearly applied to Indira Gandhi and applied at the very outset.

In Chapter III of the First Report, Justice Shah explained the procedure he adopted. In paragraph 3.13 he argued that a “preliminary inquiry” was necessary to “identify that person” to whom a notice under Rule 5(2) (a) was necessary. This was worse than absurd. It was disingenuous. The identity of the main suspect, then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, was not secret. She should have been summoned and allowed to be represented by counsel from the very beginning.

It is not only Indira Gandhi’s supporters who were unhappy with Justice Shah’s conduct of the inquiry. None questioned the fairness of Justice A.C. Gupta’s conduct of the Commission of Inquiry on the Maruti scandal. One grants that the issue raised here is debatable. Two views are possible. The proceedings of the Thakkar-Natarajan Commission and its unfairness to V.P. Singh brought home to many the errors that commissions of inquiry commit. A full study is called for.

BOOKS

Towards oligarchy

BHASKAR GHOSE

The “democratic process” today is more about securing the interests, political and economic, of the power elite than about representing the people’s will.

RANJEET KUMAR

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

MANY in India have had, for many years now, an uneasy feeling that democracy, as generally understood, sits uneasily among the people of this country. India has large and sometimes articulate political parties and it has had leaders totally committed to the concept of democracy, which is also true. There was Jawaharlal Nehru, Jayaprakash Narayan and others who believed in the concept of democracy as the only one that would keep the country together and take it forward.

Like true democrats they believed that dissent was an essential part of democracy, and that the country would only be enriched by debate and discussion, even by agitation if that became necessary. Their belief was complemented by their direct contact with the people; the trust that people had in them made it possible for them to persuade them to accept, enthusiastically, the beliefs and ideas they gave them.

But when such leaders and people are not there any more, what happens to the parties and institutions they have built and nurtured? One facile answer is that political argument gets stronger and power shifts from one group to another when elections are held. In other words, the people decide who will have the responsibility to manage the country, removing those whom they consider incapable and bringing in those they think can do the job. This is very convenient and comforting. It is also totally fictitious.

It is true that political argument does get stronger, more so because of the increasingly watchful media, of which most political groups have become wary, even fearful, and not without reason. The fiction lies in the belief that the “people” remove those who do not perform and bring in those who they think can perform.

First, the concept of “people” is simplistic; the vast numbers of individuals in the country are an infinitely complex entity consisting of a vast number of groups and sub-groups. This enormous mass of individuals does not come together and decide anything; that is not what happens, not at all. What happens is that a strategy aimed at finding acceptance with groups of individuals, in some cases possibly fortuitously, works or works better than the strategy of another group. In the 2009 general elections, the strategy of what was called the Third Front did not work; most individuals did not trust it. In a muddle of strategies, the United Progressive Alliance got through but not because it had planned to do so. It had, of course, tried to win, but its plans were wide off the mark. When it won it must have been as surprised as anyone else. On the other hand, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of the Janata Dal (United) had a strategy that he had worked on for years – to give people the kind of development and security they had been yearning for – and his victory was no surprise, except perhaps to his opponents, and their surprise was more at the magnitude of his success than at the victory itself. It made their strategies and plans look comic in comparison.

Nitish Kumar is an exception, and a phenomenon confined to Bihar. At the national level, and in most other States, the structure of democracy is being subjected to forces that may well change it completely over time. To understand that one has, perhaps, to take a step back and look at what the process is about today.

It is not about representing the “people’s” will. It is about control and power. Our so-called democracy is defined not by the existence of dissent and opposition activity but by the nature of the power wielded. It is monarchical and meant to secure the interests, political and economic, of the ruling group, whichever it is. And this is done by ensuring that power remains with an elite group – preferably the family, but also those who are close to it and share the same backgrounds. One can see it today in what many refer to as the First Family in the Congress; Sonia Gandhi is clearly grooming her son, Rahul Gandhi, to be the next Prime Minister, and should he not marry and have children, then there is her daughter, with two children who are doubtless being groomed as future Prime Ministers or party leaders. But they are not by any means the only family. Look at the number of sons and daughters now who are inducted into the corridors of power: Jyotiraditya Scindia, Sachin Pilot, Supriya Sule, even Naveen Patnaik in Bhubaneswar who is what he is because he is Biju Patnaik’s son, and a whole host of others whom media naively call the Young Turks. The original Young Turks were not just young; they had come to prominence because of their abilities, not because of who their father or mother was.

SHANKER CHAKRAVARTY

Congrass MPs Sachin Pilot, Supriya Sule and Jitin Prasad, a file photograph. A number of sons and daughters whom the media naively call Young Turks have been inducted into the corridors of power.

Inevitably, the elements of power are being chivvied towards specific families, which will then determine who will stand for elections for their parties, and thus consolidate their own position, securing it for their generation and the generations to follow. Increasingly, their contact with the people has become more and more distant; the people get to be called the “masses” who have to be manoeuvred by skilled managers (devotees of the families, naturally).

It is not a phenomenon confined to the Congress party; it is as much in evidence in the opposition parties such as the Samajwadi Party and others. And where the factor of unease comes in is in what appears to be an inevitable slide towards oligarchy, where an elite takes over power – political and economic. It is economic, too, of course. All the big corporate giants are busy grooming their sons and daughters to take their place among the power elite; Mukesh Ambani and Anil Ambani are only one instance of this. Even the much-revered Tata group is reportedly looking for a Tata to head it once Ratan Tata leaves; Rahul Bajaj has already inducted his son into his empire, so has Vijaya Mallya.

The German sociologist Robert Michels developed a concept that is common knowledge now – the iron law of oligarchy. He says, in effect, that democratic institutions, both political and economic, must inevitably transform themselves into oligarchic entities as the ruling elite strives to keep power and control. The people can never rule; it simply does not happen. He wrote:

“It is nonetheless true that social wealth cannot be satisfactorily administered in any other manner than by the creation of an extensive bureaucracy. In this way we are led by an inevitable logic to the flat denial of the possibility of a state without classes. The administration of an immeasurably large capital, above all when this capital is collective property, confers upon the administrator influence at least equal to that possessed by the private owner of capital. Consequently the critics in advance of the Marxist social order ask whether the instinct which today leads the members of the possessing classes to transmit to their children the wealth which they (the parents) have amassed, will not exist also in the administrators of the public wealth of the socialist state, and whether these administrators will not utilise their immense influence in order to secure for their children the succession to the offices which they themselves hold .” (Robert Michels; Political Parties – A Sociological Study of the Oligarchical Tendencies on Modern Democracy; London, 1916. Reproduced and preserved in the library of the University of Virginia.)

It seems almost natural to us; a large number of us take instinctively to servitude. It will not do to point to the existence of the opposition. Michels argues, very persuasively, that the opposition and the ruling group are actually one when it comes to the formation of the elite structure that will rule. The concern that this rule be perpetuated is a shared one; all that changes is which part of the elite group gets to rule.

One can only hope that this is not what we have in store for us, that we do produce some leaders from outside the elite families who, like Nitish Kumar in Bihar, will lead parties with clear concepts of development.

PUBLIC HEALTH

A dying system

T.K. RAJALAKSHMIrecently in Jodhpur

The death of 16 women admitted to a government hospital in Jodhpur for childbirth exposes the sorry state of the public health system in Rajasthan.

AP

Doctors and government officials speak to a women suspected to have fallen ill after being administered contaminated intravenous fluid at the State-run Umaid Hospital in Jodhpur, on February 25.

THE death of 16 women, who had sought obstetric care, within a span of a fortnight following infection caused by contaminated intravenous (IV) fluid injection and unhygienic conditions in a leading government hospital in Jodhpur district of Rajasthan has made a mockery of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), the flagship health programme of the Union government. The goal of the mission, launched in 2005, is to provide “integrated comprehensive primary health care services, especially to the poor and vulnerable sections of society”.

The deaths would have gone relatively unnoticed had they occurred over a period of time. It became public only after relatives of one of the deceased women raised a hue and cry.

That the deaths took place at Umaid Hospital, one of the oldest and largest government hospitals, predating Independence, was even more shocking. The majority of the women were poor or belonged to lower-middle-class families and had been admitted to the hospital in an advanced stage of pregnancy. They came from far-flung areas of Barmer, Jaisalmer and Jodhpur districts which lack facilities for obstetric care. Some of them had traversed more than 300 kilometres.

All the women who died were between 21 and 34 years of age. Fourteen of them died after giving birth to healthy babies. Women in Rajasthan are known to be vulnerable to maternal mortality owing to nutritional deficiency and the risk caused by complications during delivery. The State has the third highest maternal mortality rate (MMR) in the country, at 388 per 1,00,000 births. But the latest deaths are a scathing indictment of the state of maternal health care and the public health system in general in the State.

As many as five committees, including one by the Central government, were constituted to inquire into the incident. According to Divisional Commissioner R.K. Jain, the conclusions drawn by a three-member team deputed by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare have not been made available to the State government or to the office of the Jodhpur Divisional Commissioner. A second viewpoint came from a three-member team, which included a microbiologist from Jaipur. The doctors commented on the lack of hygiene in the labour room and operation theatre of the hospital. Another inquiry, by the S.N. Medical College administration, confirmed contamination and unhygienic conditions as factors responsible for the spate of maternal deaths. A sample of the contaminated IV fluid batch has been sent to the Central Drug Laboratory in Kolkata for verification. Two more inquiries, one by the Divisional Commissioner himself and the other by a four-member team of medical experts from the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh, were instituted. Meanwhile, the hospital administration suspended a storekeeper and the area drug inspector.

On the basis of the findings of the inquiry carried out by the Divisional Commissioner, the State government suspended three doctors for negligence and lapses in the procurement of medicines. This response came after repeated demands to fix responsibility on senior hospital authorities. The doctors against whom action has been taken are Sushila Boda, head of the gynaecology department at Jodhpur Medical College; Ajay Malviya, Chief Medical Officer (Stores), Mahatma Gandhi Hospital; and Mohan Makwana, Chief Medical Officer (Stores) and paediatrician at Umaid Hospital.

The patients’ attendants had spent anywhere between Rs.20,000 and Rs.1 lakh for medication, in spite of the fact that they were undergoing treatment at a government hospital. The families of the women had to pay for medicines and for blood and plasma transfusions.

Demanding action against the doctors who treated the women, non-governmental organisations such as Vikalp, Gravis and Meera that work in the area of women and health care said complicated surgical procedures should be entrusted with trained doctors. They have also demanded the strengthening of health facilities in Jaisalmer, Jalore, Pali and Barmer districts, pointing out that in the absence of comprehensive health care services in those areas, families are forced to go to Jodhpur for something as basic as childbirth. They demanded that proper discharge papers be given to the patients (in fact, only a few families had any kind of papers with them) and that proper post-natal care be provided for the newborns of the women who had died.

Compensation

The government announced a compensation only after 13 deaths had taken place. Surprisingly, even after the government sealed the particular batch of IV fluids and blacklisted the Indore-based Parental Surgical India Limited and its local distributor, three more women, who were delivered of their babies, died owing to multi-organ failure and septicaemia. One woman, Sagar Kunwar, who was alive but was declared dead in the list issued by the hospital initially, finally succumbed to her illness on March 14. The previous day, Manu, the wife of an agricultural labourer, who had been admitted to the hospital on February 15, died. She had given birth to a baby boy on March 9.

AFP

Umaid Hospital is overburdened. It is equipped to conduct only 40 deliveries a day but 70 deliveries take place each day.

“The doctors said nothing clearly. They said she has tuberculosis and cancer and that they had to take out the uterus because there was a gaanth [the local word for fibroid or a cyst],” said Rekha Ram, Manu’s brother-in-law. He called up from Jodhpur to inform Frontline that his sister-in-law was dead and that the hospital was pressuring his family to take away her body.

“She was in the ICU [intensive care unit] for seven days. We are agricultural workers from Osian block in Barmer. We get work sometimes. We do not even have a BPL [below poverty line] card. Yet, we have borrowed and spent Rs.70,000 so far. The doctors should at least tell us what is wrong with her,” said Manu’s husband, Dewa Ram. He gave this information to Frontline when Manu was still alive. Manu’s two previous childbirths were conducted in the village itself. This time she had developed pain and fever, and that is why she was taken to Umaid Hospital.

The government announced a compensation of Rs.5 lakh to each of the 16 bereaved families. Its mandate of compensation was limited to the deaths that had taken place owing to the contaminated IV fluid. The families of Manu, Prem and Sagar Kunwar, the three women who died between March 13 and15, were not entitled to any compensation.

After the first three deaths were reported on February 13, fourteen other cases were shifted to the ICU wards of the super-speciality M.G. Hospital and Mathura Dass Mathur Hospital, both of which are attached to S.N. Medical College. Umaid Hospital was declared out of bounds for the media after the negative publicity it got following the deaths. A junior doctor, on condition of anonymity, told Frontline that the number of inpatients had dropped. There was no doubt, he said, that referral systems were totally absent in the rural areas. “There is a reason why they come here. The primary health care centres [PHCs] and the community health centres [CHCs] are not at all equipped. They have neither personnel nor infrastructure. What is the point of appointing a gynaecologist at a PHC without providing for other enabling infrastructure and personnel?” he asked. He said that on some days the corridors of Umaid Hospital would be filled with patients.

According to R.K. Jain, people generally preferred to go the district hospital or they went there because someone in the family had delivered there. He said there should be some regulation to restrict the inflow of patients to the district hospitals in order to prevent overcrowding. Stating he was not a “medical expert”, he said he would look into administrative lapses; procurement issues; tendering processes, especially those involving the procurement of IV fluids; the absence of infrastructure in the source areas from where the patients came; and negligence on the part of officials.

“Twenty thousand deliveries are done annually at Umaid Hospital, 30 per cent of them by Caesarean section. There are some 70 cases of maternal mortality every a year. The hospital is overburdened. Most of the cases where the deaths took place were complicated ones, almost ‘gone’ cases. There were two cases of intrauterine death,” he said.

Ashish with his baby girl. His wife, Prem Sheela, died on February 21.

The hospital was equipped to conduct only 40 deliveries a day but 70 deliveries took place each day, he said. “I am going to propose a mechanism to regulate the inpatient traffic here. I am also going to find out the reasons why the CHCs referred the patients to Umaid Hospital in the first place. I will also take to task any auxiliary nurse midwife or Chief Medical Health Officer if any negligence has been found on their part,” he said, adding that not all cases were referred ones. Even if the hospital was overburdened with patients, it was common knowledge that almost all the senior doctors had a flourishing private practice, which on many occasions was conducted when they were required to be at the hospital.

On March 13, when Prem, who was admitted to the ICU of M.G. Hospital, died, her relatives insisted that she was entitled to government compensation to which the medical superintendent, Arun Mathur, agreed in principle. She had been admitted to Umaid Hospital on January 31 and then referred to M.G. Hospital, where she died of multi-organ failure. Arun Mathur declined to comment whether contaminated IV fluid was responsible for the death. “She had undergone dialysis and had low blood pressure. She had been put on ventilator as well,” he told Frontline.

Most of the women died owing to post-partum haemorrhage and septicaemia followed by multi-organ failure, or multi-organ dysfunction syndrome, the medical term used to describe this condition. In some cases, it was a combination of several causes, including disseminated intravascular coagulation. What was shocking was that some of the women had given birth to healthy children earlier and had survived childbirth.

Frontline spoke to five of the affected families, including those who were not on the government’s “compensation list”, and found that all of them were in deep debt owing to costs incurred during the period of medical treatment. They uniformly complained of the attitude of the doctors, including the head of the gynaecology department of Umaid Hospital. Arif Chhipa, a resident of Khanda Falsa in Jodhpur town whose 20-year-old wife, Rukhsana, died on February 22 from a variety of listed causes, including renal failure and multi-organ failure, said the doctors in the ICU at M.G. Hospital were laughing when her haemoglobin level showed no improvement despite blood infusions. Rukhsana had a Caesarean section and gave birth to a baby girl on February 14. Her condition began to worsen subsequently.

“Her hands and feet were swollen. Her stitches were leaking. They took Arif’s consent to do a dialysis on her. She was perfectly healthy when she walked into the operation theatre,” said Shamim, a relative of Rukhsana’s who was with her throughout. In fact, the “cleaning” of the patient, post- and pre-partum, was done by the attendants and not by the hospital staff. “The government-appointed nurses and other staff would not do anything. We got the sanitary pads ourselves and had to clean her up. The table on which she lay was not cleaned properly,” she said. Arif suspects that contaminated glucose was responsible for the death. “We have no bills but we spent around Rs.1.5 lakh on the treatment,” he said.

Narender, a resident of Masuriya Colony in Jodhpur town, was the first to raise a hue and a cry after his 20-year-old wife, Bhawana, was declared dead by M.G. Hospital, where she had been admitted after being referred to by Umaid Hospital. Interestingly, the cause of death was not listed in the information given by the administration. As in the case of Rukhsana, Bhawana’s body was “swollen like a balloon”. This was not Bhawana’s first delivery. She had given birth to two children before.

According to Narender, who is a graduate and is unemployed, she was admitted on February 19 at 10 a.m. (though the hospital records say she was admitted at 4-30 p.m. and list the time of delivery as 3-56 p.m.). She delivered at around 4 p.m. and then started bleeding. She bled all night, and the doctors took Narender’s consent to remove her uterus. However, the bleeding did not stop. It was then decided to move her from Umaid Hospital to M.G. Hospital. Narender said they were fumbling with the oxygen cylinder even as her heartbeat was getting faint.

The corridor leading to M.G. Hospital’s intensive care unit.

On February 24, she began bleeding from her nose and mouth, and dialysis was tried. “At 3-30 p.m., the doctors called me aside and said they were trying to revive her, but an hour later they said she had died. They did not even bother to explain to me what had gone wrong. When I insisted, they asked me if I knew better than they,” Narender said. “I don’t know how I am going to bring up my girls. They are so small. The newborn wakes up in the middle of the night. My eldest one, Kirti, does not know her mother is dead, but she knows something is wrong – she remains quiet all day,” he said.

Ashish is another young man who lost his 21-year-old wife, Prem Sheela. The cause of her death was listed as renal failure, jaundice and multi-organ dysfunction syndrome. He said they had taken her for check-up regularly at the government hospital at Paota and that no problem had been detected at any stage. She was to deliver on February 5, but then five days later she was referred to Umaid Hospital. On February 11, a healthy baby girl, weighing three kilograms, was born. “My daughter-in-law was educated and progressive. She had even taught in a nearby school and wanted to go back to work once things stabilised. She never used to cover her head like other women in Rajasthan,” said a distraught Shiv Rattan, an employee with Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited. From February 16, Prem Sheela’s condition worsened.

“After the C-sec, she couldn’t get sleep. They did not let us inside, so we do not know what was going on with her,” said Ashish. Two rounds of blood tests were done, for which the family paid, and it turned out that she had jaundice. “They even said she might die and referred her to Mathura Dass Mathur Hospital. We bought plasma as well on more than three occasions,” he said, showing three receipts of Rs.1,200 each issued by the Umaid Hospital Medicare Relief Society.

The family spent around Rs.50,000 on the treatment. For 12 days, Prem Sheela battled for her life. On February 21, she breathed her last. “We do feel the doctors are to blame,” said Shiv Rattan.

According to the Sample Registration System statistical report of 2008, the MMR in India is 254 deaths for every 1,00,000 live births. Recently, the fourth Common Review Mission (CRM), an assessment of the NRHM, reviewed 14 States, including Rajasthan. It identified gaps in infrastructure and a lack of human resource, especially shortage of specialists, second auxiliary nurse midwives and multi-purpose health workers. It also observed the need for proper procurement systems and the establishment of laboratory services at peripheral levels at affordable rates.

The fourth CRM has recommended contractual appointment under the NRHM, which, given the state of the health care system, may not be a good idea. A Planning Commission study of the NRHM has indicated uneven progress in the implementation of the programme in States such as Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Bihar.

Responding to a question in Parliament on the condition of the PHCs, the Union Health Minister replied that many PHCs had been made functional to provide round-the-clock services and newborn baby care units had been established in them. If such a facility was really available in Rajasthan, perhaps many deaths could have been avoided. For the moment, the State government is in the dock and everyone is waiting for an explanation for the denial of proper medical care at the government hospital.

GENDER ISSUES

Reverse reservation

T.K. RAJALAKSHMI

The Haryana government order that in effect reserves 67 per cent of teaching posts for men is of a piece with its record of gender bias.

BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

AIDWA members protest against the government notification reserving 67 per cent of teaching posts for men, in Rohtak district.

THE Haryana government claims it has a slew of schemes and policies aimed at empowering women, but one of its policy decisions relating to the recruitment of teachers has angered women in the State. In 2005, the government issued an order reserving 33 per cent of the teaching posts for women and 67 per cent for men. The decision was widely criticised as grossly unconstitutional, but it was never cancelled. Following protests by the School Teachers’ Federation of India and women’s organisations against the notification, the government modified it in 2006 by reserving at least 33 per cent of seats for women.

The HPSC conducted screening tests on December 19 and 26, 2010. The number of candidates who qualified for interviews was three times the number of vacancies. Against the number of vacant posts in each subject at the time of advertising, a 33:67 division was done, restricting the total quota for women at 33 per cent. For instance, if the total number of vacancies for chemistry was 33 with 21 in the general category, 14 were “reserved” for men and seven for women in this category. In the reserved categories too, a higher proportion was “reserved” for men. This was challenged in court, and a corrigendum was issued following this. But the approach remained the same at the time of screening.

In order to ensure that more men were selected, the cut-off marks for women who had appeared for the screening tests for the posts of lecturers (school cadre) were kept a few marks above those for men in the general as well as reserved categories. For the post of English lecturers in the general category, the cut-off mark for men was 50 and for women 62. For posts in Hindi, the cut-off score for men was 71 and for women 76; for the Scheduled Castes, parity was maintained at 71 for both men and women while for the Backward Classes category, the cut-off score for women was 78 and for men 75. Even for the physically handicapped, the cut-off score for women was higher by a few marks.

The difference in the cut-off marks for the reserved categories, ex-servicemen and physically handicapped persons in all the subjects was obvious. Worse still, women candidates who had qualified with “higher” cut-off marks were not called for interviews.

In response to a query under the Right to Information Act about the total number of female candidates selected to the 627 posts in the general category, the Haryana Staff Selection Commission replied in September 2010 that no female candidate had been selected in the general category for the posts of physical education instructors.

Court verdict

The issue was brought to the notice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court by one Ruchi Manglik and other petitioners. The court took cognisance of the matter and was critical of the manner in which the HPSC conducted the recruitment of lecturers in the school cadre. The two-judge Bench comprising Justices M.M. Kumar and Ritu Bahri directed the department concerned to issue a corrigendum and correct the June 18 advertisement that had indicated reservation for both men and women.

The Bench observed: “The advertisement has specified the number of posts for numerous subjects. As per the terms of advertisement, for example in the subject of chemistry, out of the 21 posts meant for general category, 14 posts have been reserved for men and seven for women candidates. It clearly conveys the impression that reservation is not only for female but also for male (candidates).”

Referring to the reply given by the government, the Bench observed: “It conveys in unmistakable terms that any woman having a higher merit would be entitled to be considered as a general candidate in their respective subjects and would be entitled to appointment if her merit is higher. In other words, women could also exceed the limit of 33 per cent and if they are in merit, they are to be given appointment on any of the 67 per cent posts set apart for general category. There is, thus, no reservation for male candidates, but reservation to the extent of 33 per cent is to be made for the female candidates.”

Allowing the petition and referring to Supreme Court verdicts, the Bench observed: “When selections and appointments to public offices are to be made along with post reserved for various categories, proper course required to be adopted is to first prepare the merit list of all the candidates without any regard to reservation.”

A corrigendum was issued by the Secretary, HPSC, on December 12, 2010, which said:

“In partial modification of Advertisement No. 3/2009 & 4/2009 for recruitment of 1,317 and 209 posts of lecturer (school cadre) HES-II (Group-B) respectively in Haryana Education Department published on 18.06.2009 in Indian Express, The Times of India, Dainik Bhasker & Dainik Tribune and subsequent corrigendum issued on 18.07.2009, it is announced for the general information of the candidates that as clarified by the Education Department in compliance of the orders of Hon’ble Punjab & Haryana High Court dated 16.8.2010 passed in CWP No. 10072 of 2010 titled as Ruchi Manglik and others v/s State of Haryana and others that 33 per cent reservation for women of Haryana shall be horizontal as notified vide Govt. Notification No. GSR 24/Const/Art.309/2008 dated 18.08.2008 and the ratio of judgment as laid down by the Hon’ble Apex Court in Indra Sawhney vs Union of India 1992 supp(3) SSC 217 shall also be applicable.”

Satpal Siwach, an office-bearer of the School Teachers’ Federation of India, said: “The idea of different cut-off rates itself is discriminatory. Without reservation, there is a high proportion of women in teaching jobs in schools; it is more than 40 per cent, definitely. By limiting it to 33 per cent, the government has discriminated against women on the basis of gender, which is unconstitutional.”

The move to institutionalise 67 per cent or two-thirds reservation for men has been criticised strongly by the Left parties in the State, in particular the Communist Party of India (Marxist). “Not only women but other categories such as the S.C., the B.C., and the physically challenged have been excluded from selection in the open category,” said Inderjit Singh, State secretary, CPI(M). He said that he had written to Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda about this but was yet to hear from him. The CPI(M) has also appealed to the Governor to look into this blatantly unconstitutional order.

Surprisingly, other mainstream parties in the State, including the opposition Indian National Lok Dal, have not reacted to the order. Though there are several Congress Members of Parliament from the State, including Kumari Selja, who are part of the Central government, none has bothered to discuss the issue. The matter was ultimately raised by CPI(M) Rajya Sabha member Brinda Karat on March 1 and she was joined by other members, including a few from the Bharatiya Janata Party. Brinda Karat, who began with the disclaimer that the issue had no political motive, said that reservation was being misused by the Haryana government to deprive women of a level playing field.

“This is a new face of reservation. Thirty-three per cent reservation for women in jobs has been converted into 67 per cent reservation for men in Haryana,” she said, raising the issue in zero hour. The members demanded a clarification from the Haryana government. The Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Ashwani Kumar, assured the MPs that the matter would be looked into.

A few newspapers also have been writing and commenting on the adverse effects of such biased recruitment policies. The ploy has been to reserve the majority of jobs for men in the garb of reserving 33 per cent of them for women. Instead of keeping 33 per cent as the minimum reservation limit for women, it has been converted into the maximum limit.

Even on the basis of pure merit, if more than 33 per cent of women were to get selected, this clause would restrict their numbers to 33 per cent. This move to keep women away from their legitimate right to equal participation in the sphere of employment is not surprising in a State where gender discrimination is one of the most serious challenges, honour killings are common and adverse child sex ratios prevail.

GENDER ISSUES

Oppressor’s case

T.K. RAJALAKSHMI

Women’s organisations rise up against a petition that seeks an amendment to Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code.

S. RAMBABU

A victim of domestic violence from Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh. A February 25 photograph.

A PETITION that alleges the misuse of Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code, which has been admitted by the Rajya Sabha Committee on Petitions, has become an object of concern among leading women’s organisations in the country. The petition claims that the law, dealing with dowry-related torture and acute domestic violence, is being misused. The existing law provides for a punishment of up to three years.

The petition, filed by one Dr Anupama Singh, ostensibly on behalf of many people, has demanded that the said section be made non-cognisable, bailable and compoundable. At present, the section reads: “Whoever, being the husband or the relative of the husband of a woman, subjects such women to cruelty shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years and shall also be liable to fine.” Currently, Section 498 is the only law that victims of dowry-related torture and domestic violence can have recourse to. The fact that dowry-related violence and dowry deaths have shown no abatement in the past two decades only indicates that the existing laws have not been implemented properly and have, therefore, failed to serve as deterrents.

It is ironical that while women’s organisations are demanding new laws to deal with the multifarious types of violence against women – the latest one is a law to deal with honour-related murders – and the government is responding positively, demands are being made to dilute existing ones. Besides, a Bill dealing with the protection of women from sexual harassment at the workplace has been introduced in the Lok Sabha. Also on the anvil is a draft Bill expanding the definition of sexual assault to include child abuse as well.

The fact that the Rajya Sabha committee has entertained a petition that seeks to amend Section 498A is perceived as a regressive step. Women’s groups, including the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA), have expressed their disappointment and submitted a memorandum to the committee highlighting their concern.

The petitioner has contended that Section 498A is being widely misused, fearlessly abused, and used with ulterior motives by unscrupulous people. The abuse, according to the petitioner, has caused a lot of harassment and torture, including atrocities inflicted on senior citizens, children, women (including pregnant women) and men. The petition claims that “there are several cases of dowry death wherein the supposedly ‘dead victims’ have come back alive, and several cases where the same women has [ sic] repeatedly alleged charges under this law in each of her [ sic] repeat marriages”.

The petition portrays complainant women as veritable Delilahs and Jezebels. It pleads that the law is being misused by women to “enable a get-rich-quick-scheme to extort large sums of money from innocent families”, “as a bargaining tool by those women who indulge in adultery”, to “alienate the husband from his parents and siblings so as to gain control over his finances and social behaviour including his lifestyle”, and to “conceal true facts about the mental health and educational level at the time of marriage, thereby adopting fraudulent means to forge the alliance”.

According to the petition, when their nefarious acts were exposed, the complainant women took recourse to this law, “deflecting the needle of crime on the innocent husband and his family… this law being an exception in Criminal Law presumes the accused as guilty until proven innocent; hence the woman’s word is taken as a gospel of truth. And there from begins the saga of unending trials, tribulations and destruction of an innocent man and his family.”

The law, it says, is being misused “to enable divorce so as to revive any pre-marital relationship that the wife has had [ sic] as she may have unwillingly given her consent for marriage to satisfy her parents”; to deny custody of children to the husband and his family; and to inflict “sufferings on husband and his family to settle scores and to wreak vengeance, thereby posing a grave threat to the very existence of a peaceful family unit in society”. The petition claims that thousands of innocent families have been implicated in false cases as a complaint is enough to arrest the husband, in-laws and anyone else. It contends that this has led to the “arrest of lakhs [ sic] of innocent citizens (thousands of families), with many committing suicide as they are unable to bear the indelible stigma on their honour and reputation”.

Quoting from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), the petition says that some 501,020 people had been arrested under Section 498A of the IPC from 2003-06; 294,147 of them completed trial under the Section; and 58,842 were convicted. The petition also quotes a 2005 Supreme Court order where the misuse of the law was compared to “unleashing legal terrorism”; an undated World Health Organisation (WHO) report that has apparently said that Section 498A is one of the major reasons for growing “elder abuse in India”; a Law Commission Report (154th); the Malimath Committee Report (on Reforms of the Criminal Justice System); and the 111th report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs, which have apparently acknowledged that there has been widespread misuse of Section 498A.

The Malimath Committee Report made general observations in the section dealing with offences against women. It said: “There is a general complaint that Section 498A of the IPC regarding cruelty by the husband or his relatives is subjected to gross misuse and many times operates against the interest of the wife herself. This offence is non-bailable and non-compoundable. Hence husband and other members of the family are arrested and can be behind the bars, which may result in husband losing his job. Even if the wife is willing to condone and forgive the lapse of the husband and live in matrimony, this provision comes in the way of spouses returning to the matrimonial home. This hardship can be avoided by making the offence bailable and compoundable.”

The Standing Committee report, while referring to the Law Commission’s and Malimath Committee’s reports, also recommended compounding of the offence under Section 498A . It noted: “Section 498A is intended to protect the woman from the cruelty of the husband or his relative. It has been widely reported that this provision has been misused and is also harsh as it is non-bailable and non-compoundable. It is desirable to provide a chance to the estranged spouses to come together and therefore it is proposed to make the offence under Section 498A IPC a compoundable one by inserting this Section in the Table under Sub Section (2) of Section 320 of CrPC [Criminal Procedure Code], wherein it can be compounded with permission of the court.”

On the basis of the general observations of the reports, the petitioner has demanded that the section be suitably amended so as to make (1) the offence under it bailable, non-cognisable and compoundable; (2) to make it punishable for whosoever misuses it; (3) to make the misuser liable to compensate the financial loss suffered by the falsely accused in the process; (4) to make the law gender-neutral in order to protect the interests of any man or woman and (5) to ensure time-bound trial, with a six-month limit.

P.V. SIVAKUMAR

A demonstration against Section 498A of the IPC in Hyderabad on October 3, 2010. The opposition to the law is based on the contention that it is being widely misused, fearlessly abused, and used with ulterior motives by unscrupulous people.

As far as the number of cases are concerned, very few people would dispute the figures quoted in the NCRB reports. Roughly around 80,000 cases of torture are filed every year; every minute, a woman is killed for dowry; and very few of the complaints result in convictions. For this, the poor implementation of the law rather than the law itself is to blame.

Women’s groups feel that any dilution of the law will first leave victims of cruelty in the lurch. Making the offence non-cognisable would mean that the police will not respond to any complaint made by a woman and also not investigate the matter. This would also mean that every time a woman faces domestic violence, she will have to go to the court to file a complaint before a magistrate, a process that the majority of Indian women will not find easy. The offence being bailable implies that no person can be arrested at any stage by the police without a magistrate’s order. This would mean that a woman victim could well face more physical or mental abuse without any protection whatsoever from her aggressor.

Sloppy investigation

As far as sloppy investigation is concerned, AIDWA has argued that amendments made to the CrPC in 2009 included one with regard to the powers of the police. The amendment provides that in cases that entail a punishment of up to seven years of imprisonment the police should, before arresting a person, make proper investigation. It also states that no arrest shall be made if the accused cooperates with the police and does not tamper with evidence. The onus to investigate properly before conducting an arrest is, therefore, on the police.

AIDWA, which is the largest women’s organisation in the country and has fairly long experience in dealing with issues relating to women as victims, says that the ground realities are in complete contrast to what has been presented in the petition. First, it says, women approach the police or any organisation only after going through a lot of physical and mental battery. Even when they have dared to file a complaint, it is common to find gender biases, corruption and inefficiency on the part of the police.

Second, the police have been found to take an inordinately long time to register complaints, and complainants have often had to make repeated trips to the police station. Even the specialised Crimes Against Women Cells (in Delhi and Mumbai) have not proved helpful to women complainants. AIDWA’s experience is that women are forced to attend conciliation proceedings, and the cases are normally registered after the breakdown of these. Neither do the police make attempts to recover the streedhan or dowry in time. The nature of the investigation has, by and large, been shoddy in that the statements of the complainant and other members of her family/relatives are not recorded.

AIDWA general secretary Sudha Sundararaman and legal convener Kirti Singh have demanded that complaints under Section 498A be dealt with in the same way as complaints under provisions for other serious crimes. A perusal of various judgments under this section reveals that there was hardly an instance in which the accused were held guilty under Section 498A on its own. It was only in cases where the woman had finally died that the accused were punished under this section. False complaints, the organisation said, needed to be dealt with on a case-to-case basis.

Surveys

It is presumed that a law can be misused only if there is a fair degree of knowledge about it. The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India conducted a survey of 10,000 women, including working women, housewives and college girls in Delhi and the National Capital Region, and found that despite over 20 constitutional provisions for women, 70 per cent of those surveyed were not aware of their legal rights. Another questionnaire-based survey, on 2,460 young women, done by AIDWA last year in 13 States revealed that violence at home was an endemic and commonplace phenomenon. The respondents were all in the 16-30 age group.

In some States such as Tamil Nadu, all the married women surveyed admitted to violence by their husbands and in-laws. The survey findings from Uttar Pradesh were equally shocking. Of the 239 women surveyed, 132 reported domestic violence, and the trend was common across educated and uneducated families.

The majority of respondents from Mumbai and Pune revealed that remaining single was not an option; similarly, 33 of the 40 women surveyed in Rajasthan felt that marriage was essential. While most of the married women shared their experiences of domestic violence with their parents, none of them reported sharing such experiences with their in-laws. Of the 100 women surveyed in Haryana, 44 reported violence at the hands of their natal and marital family members.

The findings of various surveys conducted only reaffirm what has been known all along – that women do suffer a lot of violence in this country. The virtual absence of any marital rights makes women even more vulnerable in contemplating action against their husbands or in-laws. The latest NCRB data, which are for 2008, revealed that dowry deaths had gone up from 6,975 cases in 1998 to 8,093 in 2007; cases registered under Section 498A had risen from 41,375 to 75,930 (almost doubled), while reported sexual harassment cases had gone up from 8,053 to 10,950 in the 10-year period. There has been a steady escalation in the violence against women, that too dowry-related violence. If there had been a real decline, it would be reflected in the number of dowry deaths.

In a socio-cultural milieu that encourages a culture of silence as far as women are concerned, where getting married and staying married are extolled values, and where marriage is perceived as providing security and social respect, the possibility of a large number of women faking and falsifying incidents of violence and harassment against them is not only remote but almost improbable.

COLUMN

Socialist & feminist?

JAYATI GHOSE

True emancipation of women requires a politics that has been shed of its masculinity to pave the way for socialism for women and men equally.

AJAY VERMA/REUTERS

At a rally on International Women’s Day in Chandigarh on March 8.

THIS year, March 8 marked a century of the celebration of International Women’s Day (IWD). But aside from a few publications and websites of women’s movements, this event went largely unremarked in the mainstream press and also in the public consciousness.

The idea of International Women’s Day was born in the socialist movement in the first decade of the 20th century. Clara Zetkin, socialist leader and head of the Women’s Office of the Social Democratic Party in Germany, proposed that every year in every country there should be a celebration on the same day – to be known as Women’s Day – to recognise the social contribution of women and to press for their demands.

As a socialist and an early (but not self-acknowledged) feminist, Clara Zetkin saw this as part of a broader anti-capitalist movement that would also foster cooperation between women in unions, women’s organisations and socialist parties so they would unite and fight jointly in the class struggle for a more progressive society.

This suggestion was accepted unanimously at the second international conference of working women in Copenhagen in 1910, which included over 100 women from 17 countries, representing unions, socialist parties, working women’s clubs, as well as the first three women elected to the Parliament in Finland.

The first International Women’s Day was honoured in some European countries (Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland) in 1911 on March 17. Rallies were held involving more than a million people (both women and men), raising demands for women’s right to work and be given equal wages, to vote, to hold public office and to end other forms of discrimination. The Russian revolutionary Alexandra Kollontai described one of these rallies as composed of “one seething, trembling sea of women… certainly the first show of militancy (in Europe) by working women” (www.leftwrite.wordpress.com).

The demands raised at those first demonstrations still resonate today: an end to imperialist wars; better social and economic conditions for women and children; controls on rapidly rising food prices.

In the United States, in March 1908, socialist women and women workers from the clothing and textile trades had organised a mass meeting for an eight-hour day and women’s suffrage. But less than a week after the first IWD in Europe in 1911, on March 25, the tragic “Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire” in New York City in the U.S. led to the deaths of more than 140 working women, mostly recent migrants into the U.S. This led to greater attention to working conditions and labour legislation for women in the U.S. and other developed countries, and these also became important rallying points for the demands made for women on IWD in later years.

The reason that the date was shifted to March 8 is of great relevance for the global women’s movement. In 1917, in tsarist Russia, Russian women went on strike for “bread and peace”, partly in response to the death of over two million Russian soldiers in war. The strike began on the last Sunday of February (which was March 8 by the Gregorian calendar used throughout most of the world).

The strike continued despite state repression and personal hardship endured by the women. This was the catalyst for – and effectively became the first stage of – the Russian Revolution. Four days later, the tsar was forced to abdicate and the provisional government granted women the right to vote. Ever since, IWD has been celebrated on March 8 not only to press for demands for gender equality but, importantly, as recognition of the tremendous power that women can wield when they unite.

The association of IWD with broader struggles of working people has remained a critical part of its essence. The slogan most often used on IWD was “Class struggle is women’s struggle – women’s struggle is class struggle!”

It was, therefore, very much part of the activities of trade unions and workers’ organisations, which recognised that women’s emancipation cannot occur within a social and economy system that denies the emancipation of workers in general, and vice versa. But as IWD became more international (taken up by the United Nations in the second half of the 20th century) and even “official” in scope, this critical link between the emancipation of women and broader economic and social emancipation of all has often been sidelined.

This reflects a general tension that, unfortunately, still remains between feminism and other progressive Left movements – a tension that persists all the more because the Left is the natural and inevitable home of those aspiring to the liberation of women.

Women have been part of the working class since the beginning of capitalism, even when they have not been widely acknowledged as workers in their own right. Even when they are not paid workers, their often unacknowledged and unpaid contribution to social reproduction and to many economic activities is absolutely essential for the functioning of the system.

However, it did take a long time for women’s struggles to be accepted as an integral part of working class struggles for a better society. For many decades, even after the first IWD was celebrated to highlight the demands of women, trade unions and other worker organisations tended to be male preserves based on the “male breadwinner” model of the household in which the husband/father worked outside to earn money, while the wife/mother did not earn outside income and handled domestic work.

It has taken prolonged struggle and determined mobilisation to generate greater social recognition of the role of women as wage workers in different forms, as well as to bring out the crucial economic significance of unpaid household labour and community-based work that is dominantly performed by women.

Even so, it must be admitted that a major problem for many women activists has been the fundamental inequality in the alliance between feminism and socialism. Donald Sassoon notes in his magisterial history of the European Left in the 20th century ( One Hundred Years of Socialism, The New Press, New York, 1996, page 419): “It was accepted by socialists only on their own terms, namely that the social struggle between capital and labour was to be recognised as fundamental; the emancipation of women as women depended on the victory of the working class.”

Partly this reflected a concern that “bourgeois” feminism would distract from the critical question of class struggle, which is why even someone like Clara Zetkin could insist that socialist women should avoid cooperating with other feminist groups. But the social reality of the experience of socialist countries in the 20th century has also shown that the breaking of gender stereotypes and domestic division of labour are not necessarily achieved through the dictatorship of the proletariat, even when significant strides are made in gender equality in other ways.

For socialist feminists, this has meant a dual and more complex process of struggle: the need to address and confront the unjust economic order that is expressed in class societies, and the simultaneous need to address and confront the constantly regenerated patterns of gender inequality and subordination that are expressed not just in economic terms but also socially, culturally and politically. The complexity is usually made more intense because the second type of struggle involves taking on not only opposing class forces but also elements within parties, trade unions and other organisations of the Left.

The fact that this second kind of struggle is happening more and more in India and elsewhere may appear to be divisive of Left and progressive movements, but it is actually a sign of great vitality.

True emancipation, obviously, requires a politics that has been shed of its explicit and implicit masculinity, to pave the way for socialism for women and men equally. For that reason alone, it is probably important for socialist men to remember and celebrate International Women’s Day.

ESSAY

Long way to go

P.S. KRISHNAN

Budget 2011-12 and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

V. RAJU

In the case of the NREGS, showing outlay proportionate to S.C. labourers as its SCP is not correct. It only reinforces the caste-dictated traditional role of the S.Cs as labourers. It is the value of the assets of direct and exclusive benefit to the S.Cs created through the NREGA that should be counted as the SCP. Here, a tank being desilted under the NREGS in a village in Krishna district in Andhra Pradesh.

THREE decades ago, in the early years of the Special Component Plan (SCP) for Scheduled Castes – very recently renamed inappropriately as Scheduled Castes Sub-Plan (SCSP) – Indira Gandhi on her return as Prime Minister wrote two historical D.O. letters dated March 12, 1980, one to Central Ministers and the other to State Chief Ministers, regarding the SCP in the Central and State government sectors respectively. These letters are of great significance for the Scheduled Castes (S.Cs) and also for the Scheduled Tribes (S.Ts).

She asked Central Ministers to take up new need-based programmes and reorient existing programmes to suit the specific developmental requirements and handicaps of the S.Cs so that benefits reach them through individual, family and group-oriented programmes. She wanted all departments and Ministries to take initiatives within their respective sectors for the development of the S.Cs. She reiterated the responsibility of each department to execute programmes relevant to the S.Cs and ensure that an optimal SCP for the S.Cs was prepared expeditiously by each Ministry as part of the Annual Plan as well as the Five-Year Plan.

In the letter, she admonished the Central Ministries that while the State governments had made a beginning, most Central Ministries were yet to prepare their SCPs. She underlined the concept of a Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) to ensure the integrated development of the various S.T. communities, with the aid of pooled financial resources of the Centre and the States, keeping in view their different economic socio-cultural backgrounds. The letter pinpointed the dual disabilities of severe economic exploitation and social discrimination that the S.Cs suffer from and the exploitation of the S.Ts and their confinement to remote, inaccessible areas with poor infrastructure, and wanted every Central Minister to ensure that each Central Ministry made its due contribution to the task of development of the S.Cs and the S.Ts.

In her letter to Chief Ministers and Governors, she underlined that it was particularly important to take note of the developmental needs of the S.Cs in each occupational category, identify the available opportunities suitable for them, formulate appropriate developmental programmes in their light and build these programmes and corresponding outlays into the SCPs. This letter wanted the programmes and outlays in the SCP to be adequate to cover the S.Cs and not be mere token provisions. Also, it said the State SCPs should be improved not only quantitatively but also qualitatively, and satisfactory implementation should be ensured by a clear-cut personnel policy. She told the Chief Ministers and Governors that they should see that the task of development of the S.Cs received the highest priority and that they should give it their personal attention and guidance.

I had the privilege of formulating these two letters for Indira Gandhi. Of the Central Ministers addressed, Pranab Mukherjee, then Minister for Commerce and Civil Supplies, is still active, now as Finance Minister.

Continuing indifference

The neglect of the Central Ministries continues to this day. The indifference of governments to the SCP and the TSP, the goals of the development of the S.Cs and the S.Ts mandated by the Constitution and national policy, and their plight and fate is matched by the indifference of the media, both visual and print, with rare exceptions.

In 1986, K.R. Narayanan, then Minister for Planning, wrote a letter (which I prepared) to the Chief Ministers. In response, N.T. Rama Rao, the then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, while assuring Narayanan of the State government’s cooperation, in a clever counter-thrust, knowing the indifference of Central Ministries, expressed the hope that the Central Ministries also would be making optimal SCPs as suggested by him.

Budget 2011-12 is an occasion to examine how far this Central neglect continues, how far there is change and what needs to be done this year and ultimately to fulfil the primary goal of the SCP and the TSP as laid down in the Constitution and repeatedly emphasised. Most recently, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in his address on June 27, 2005, to the 51st meeting of the National Development Council, said the gap in the socio-economic development of the S.Cs and the S.Ts should be bridged within a period of 10 years, which obviously meant that the S.Cs and the S.Ts should reach the level of the advantaged castes/classes of Indian society in all parameters within this period.

Shortly before the Budget, the plight of the SCP came into the limelight, incidental to and thanks to the exposure of controversies regarding malpractices in the Commonwealth Games 2010, including diversion of large amounts of the SCP of Delhi State to totally irrelevant infrastructural programmes of the CWG. A diversion of Rs.678.91 crore was admitted by the Home Minister himself in the Rajya Sabha on August 31, 2010.

Incidentally, what was highlighted in Delhi is also true in varying degrees of other State governments and Union Territories (U.Ts). A task force appointed to review the guidelines on the SCSP and the TSP, under the chairmanship of Narendra Jadhav, Member, Planning Commission, submitted its first report in the context of Central Ministries on November 29, 2010.

The Plan Expenditure in Budget 2011-12 is Rs.4,41,546.75 crore, which is 35.1 per cent of the total Budget. The Plan outlay for schemes exclusive to the S.Cs is Rs.4,639.34 crore and for the S.Ts it is Rs.4,245.55 crore, vide Part-A of Statement 21 and 21A of Expenditure Budget Volume I. Though they represent a step-up of 41.74 per cent and 21 per cent respectively over the previous Budget, the base is so low that the present outlays are a measly 1.05 per cent (0.88 per cent in Budget Estimates, or B.E., 2010-11) and 0.96 per cent (0.83 per cent in B.E. 2010-11) of the total Plan, both adding up to 2.01 per cent. The S.Cs and the S.Ts constitute a quarter of India’s population – S.Cs 16.2 per cent and S.Ts 8.2 per cent – but a much larger proportion of the deprived and exploited population.

Schemes where at least 20 per cent are shown as benefitting the S.Cs and the S.Ts are listed in Part B of Statement No. 21 (for S.Cs) and 21A (for S.Ts). Separate display of figures for the two categories is a welcome innovation of this Budget. In the last few years, the two were jumbled up together. These latter schemes account for Rs.25,911.66 crore for the S.Cs and Rs.13,125.80 crore for the S.Ts. They account respectively for 5.87 per cent of the total Plan outlay for the S.Cs and 2.97 per cent of the total Plan outlay for the S.Ts. Adding both categories, the S.Cs have 8.98 per cent of the total Plan outlay and the S.Ts 5.11 per cent. Part-B schemes add up to 8.84 per cent (6.94 per cent in the last year). Quantitatively, thus, there is improvement but it is not sizable or proportionate to the S.C. and S.T. population.

Out of 68 Ministries and departments, 31 have provided outlays for S.C. and S.T. programmes, 25 of them for the S.Cs and 26 for the S.Ts, compared with 21 jointly for the S.Cs and the S.Ts in the last Budget. This is another quantitative improvement.

The quantitative improvements are the outcome of the Narendra Jadhav-led task force exercise, and this is welcome.

It was the calculation of the task force that if the percentages recommended by it were followed in the Central Plan of 2011-12, 14.3 per cent of the total Central Plan outlay would be available for the SCSP against the stipulated 16.2 per cent and for the TSP more than the stipulated 8.2 per cent. A sum of Rs.6,118 crore, or Rs.6,100 crore more, would be required to reach the stipulated 16.2 per cent in the case of the SCP, and this amount ought to be made available as a lump sum in the Annual Plan and Budget 2011-12 to be allotted by the Planning Commission or the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, preferably the former, to be given to Ministries that come forward with specific “S.C.-oriented schemes”.

Huge gap in outlays

But it is seen that only 7.23 per cent has become available for S.C. development, according to the Budget documents of 2011-12. The quantitative gap, therefore, is not of the order of Rs.6,000 crore as calculated by the task force but nearly seven times as much, namely, Rs.40,980 crore. In the case of the S.Ts, contrary to the task force’s expectation, a gap of Rs.18,835 crore has emerged in this Budget.

Even if, following the methodology of the task force, the Central assistance for State and U.T. Plans is deducted and the SCP and the TSP due and budgeted are calculated on the reduced denominator, the gap will still be Rs.24,570 crore for the SCP and Rs.10,530 crore for the TSP. In fact, there is no need to exclude the Central assistance for State and U.T. Plans, and the SCP and the TSP should be earmarked on those items also – even the task force felt that earmarking under the SCSP/TSP should apply to at least some of the items under Central assistance for State and U.T. Plans, though I would say that such earmarking can and should be done in all or almost all items.

The Budget does not provide as lump sum the gap amount of Rs.40,980 crore or Rs.24,570 crore or even the task force amount of Rs.6,000 crore for the SCP or the gap amount of Rs.18,835 crore or Rs.10,530 crore for the TSP.

This is a serious failure in the Plan Budget-making exercise on the quantitative side. Will this be made good and when? Members of Parliament belonging to the S.C. and S.T. categories and other S.C./S.T.-friendly MPs and the Standing Committee have to take this up seriously.

Qualitative neglect

Even more important is the qualitative side, which is yet to receive adequate attention. There is reason to believe that in many cases Ministries have earmarked outlays for the S.Cs and the S.Ts as part of the SCP and the TSP mechanically without thinking as to what precise benefit will directly, exclusively and indubitably accrue respectively to the S.Cs and the S.Ts from these earmarked outlays.

To make sure that the outlays do not remain on paper without any serious intent or efforts at implementation, as has often happened in the past, each Ministry/department must now specify these direct, exclusive and indubitable benefits for the S.Cs and the S.Ts, and the Planning Commission and the Ministries of Social Justice & Empowerment and Tribal Affairs will have to vigorously and rigorously pursue this. While doing so there should be no effort to earmark a portion of the building cost of the Indian Institutes of Technology and the Indian Institutes of Management and other institutions to be shown as a part of the SCP or the TSP unless the institutions are constructed exclusively or mainly for the two categories of persons.

In the case of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS), showing outlay proportionate to S.C. labourers as its SCP is not correct. It only reinforces the caste-dictated traditional role of the S.Cs as labourers. It is the value of the assets of direct and exclusive benefit to the S.Cs created through the NREGA that should be counted as the SCP. For example, community borewells for S.C. lands; construction of good houses for the S.Cs; laying of all-weather link roads from S.C. bastis to places where they have to go, such as school, the primary health centre, funeral ground, and so on; construction of community study centres in S.C. bastis; and construction of buildings and facilities for anganwadis to be located in S.C. bastis as S.C. women and children are often humiliated by discrimination in anganwadis in general localities. A very valuable item would be the reclamation of the many lakhs of acres of usar (alkaline and saline) lands in Uttar Pradesh and other States, to be distributed among rural landless S.C. families.

Instances can be multiplied but these illustrate the type of vigorous and rigorous exercise required to translate the outlays shown for the S.Cs and the S.Ts into real and tangible benefits in full for them. The resultant schemes and their details should be put out in the public domain and communicated to all active non-governmental organisations and activists to facilitate grass-roots-level social audit, feedback and timely correctives.

If the amount of the gap mentioned above is provided as a lump sum to make up 16.2 per cent and 8.2 per cent respectively for the SCP and the TSP, through the efforts of MPs, the Planning Commission and the two nodal Ministries, this amount should not be frittered away but used for solid schemes that will remove the gap in all developmental and welfare parameters between the S.Cs and the S.Ts on the one hand and the advanced castes/classes on the other as directed by the Prime Minister and Chairman of the Planning Commission in June 2005. The Prime Minister’s solemn direction should not be allowed to remain only on paper.

Required methodology

All these, if done properly, with a sense of mission, will take us only part of the way. To go the full way, there is no alternative to the approach I have pleaded for in working groups and steering groups from 1982 onwards and through documents in the public domain from 1996 onwards (for example, Dalit Manifesto, 1996; Himalaya Proclamation, 2004; and Draft Common Minimum Programme, 2009). The population-equivalent proportion (at present 16.2 per cent and 8.2 per cent) of the total Central Plan outlay should be set apart respectively as the SCP and the TSP before the allocation of the total outlay among sectors and Ministries.

Similarly, population-equivalent proportion should also be set apart as the SCP and the TSP in each State Plan. Within this untied total corpus of the SCP and the TSP of the Centre and the States, schemes and programmes should be sanctioned on the basis of the developmental needs and priorities of the S.Cs and the S.Ts, which will bring about their economic liberation and educational parity at all levels with the advanced castes and secure their protection from violence (atrocities) and humiliation (“untouchability”) and push up indicators for the S.Cs and the S.Ts in all parameters – economic, occupational, educational (at all levels), health (infant mortality, under-five mortality, anaemia, malnutrition) to the level of the advanced castes.

Such schemes must include a task force in each taluk/tehsil/mandal to identify, in association with local S.Cs and S.Ts, all lands distributable to landless rural S.Cs and S.Ts (assessed waste/ gair-mazaruva, bhoodan, and reclaimable usar lands, and so on), evict encroachers and make grants with real possession to landless S.Cs and S.Ts, and a district-level task force for supervision and direction, thus fulfilling a pre-Independence national commitment; and comprehensive minor irrigation for all lands of the S.Cs and the S.Ts through community borewells, tube wells, and so on, one of the unfulfilled commitments of the United Progressive Alliance’s Common Minimum Programme, 2004, and of the President’s Address to Parliament, 2004.

This will not only give economic freedom and status for the S.Cs and the S.Ts but also impart a big push to food production, removing the fear of the C. Rangarajan Committee regarding viability of a food and nutrition security law covering all deserving people (who will inter alia include all rural and urban slum-resident S.Cs and S.Ts and most of the Backward Classes) – the S.Cs and the S.Ts if universally endowed with lands can ensure adequate additional food production required.

On the educational side, there will have to be pre-primary education for all S.C. and S.T. children by upgrading anganwadis into pre-primary schools with qualified teachers, and, as recommended in 2008 by the Group of Ministers on Dalit Affairs set up in 2005, setting up a network of high-quality residential schools to cover all children of S.Cs and similarly also of S.Ts and B.Cs, especially More, Most and Extremely Backward Castes among the B.Cs, including Muslim and Christian B.Cs.

These steps have to be accompanied by the upgradation of S.C. bastis and tribal hamlets to humanly acceptable levels with all-weather connectivity and with all necessary amenities, including community study halls for children with computers and 24-hour electricity; and special coaching schemes to enable the S.Cs and the S.Ts to fully occupy reserved seats in higher professional and technological institutions.

Other musts are mobile task forces to ruthlessly extirpate rampant “untouchability”, bonded labour and atrocities, and so on. These are instances and more such schemes and details are available in documents I have referred to and in my book Empowering Dalits for Empowering India: A Road Map (Manak Publications, New Delhi, 2009).

Planning for B.Cs?

Planning for the B.Cs with the objective of removing the backwardness of each caste of the B.Cs and to bring them to the level of advanced castes in all parameters has not even been thought of seriously until now. The methodology appropriate for this has been detailed in the Report of the Planning Commission’s Working Group on the Empowerment of Backward Classes in the Tenth Plan, 2001, under my chairmanship, which, like all working group reports on deprived categories and social classes is gathering dust.

All those who are wedded to the human and constitutional values of equality and social justice with, in the specific context of India, focus on the S.Cs, the S.Ts and the B.Cs, especially the traditionally landless castes of the B.Cs (More, Most and Extremely Backward castes of B.Cs), including the B.Cs of Muslim, Christian and other religious minorities and women and children of these three social categories, and who are concerned with social cohesion, national unity and optimal progress of the nation, should work proactively for this cause wherever and whatever they are, whether MPs or MLAs, other political leaders, the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers and Ministers, All India Service and Central officers, other officers, economists, professionals, educationists, bankers and development financiers or media professionals or other enlightened citizens.

Our media, which deserve congratulations on many matters, unfortunately, have totally missed the S.C. and S.T. aspect of the Budget and the virtually absent B.C. aspect. I hope they will remove this blind spot.

P.S. Krishnan is a former Secretary to the Government of India and has been a social justice expert for the last nearly six decades.

COLUMN

Urban challenges

R.K. RAGHAVAN

Despite the recent attempts of the police force to build bridges with people, policing in cities does not measure up to popular expectations.

SUSHIL KUMAR VERMA

Radhika Tanwar, who was shot dead near her college in New Delhi on March 8.

KUDOS to the Delhi Police for swiftly solving the Radhika Tanwar murder case that had shocked the whole city. Radhika, a girl of 20, was shot dead in broad daylight outside her college. It is sad that very few onlookers went to her assistance. It is just possible that she could have been saved if she had been rushed to the nearest hospital for prompt medical attention.

Worse was to follow. The crime must certainly have been witnessed by a large number of people. None, however, came forward to help the police with any information. It is a matter of gratification that the Delhi Police could still make headway and identify the assailant, a young deranged person who had stalked Radhika for years. This is the crux of the problem. The police are expected to contain crime and also solve it with no support from the community.

A few months ago, the Delhi Police similarly cracked a case of gang rape in which a woman was attacked by a pack of goons in a moving car. This was a blind case, and the police were berated for not solving it. That the police managed to locate the aggressors within weeks was a tribute to their perseverance.

There are several other such successes of which the Delhi Police can rightly be proud of, but these are unknown to the public. Undeniably, however, the police in the capital have a press that constantly looks for their failures rather than achievements. This is probably true of the police the world over. But it is very much so in our country, with so many newspapers and television channels competing fiercely with one another in a rat race for survival and looking all the time for the negative and the sensational news.

What do the several instances of the Delhi Police’s success (including in the case of Radhika Tanwar) mean to society at large? The obvious fact is that a police force in any Indian city can still give a good account of itself in spite of the heavy odds stacked against it in the form of burgeoning residential settlements, an enormous floating population, lack of manpower, an uncooperative public, and corruption within its ranks. What the police need are enormous motivation and generous public and political support.

Talent within police forces is abundant, providing the building block for enhancing police effectiveness. More and more young men and women, many with college degrees, are willing to join the police. They are good clay to be moulded by their supervisors. The million-dollar question is whether such a resource is sensibly utilised and enthused by the leadership. The answer is both “yes” and “no”. There are a few young and imaginative Indian Police Service officers, some with a Management degree, who understand the value of morale in a work group that is overburdened and stressed all the time and needs a dynamic leadership if it has to remain on course.

SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR

Ram Singh alias Vijay, the main accused, when he was produced in a District Court at Dwarka in New Delhi.

They are also trying many innovations particularly in the area of better relations with the public so as to enhance the latter’s stakes in efficient policing. In spite of this commendable endeavour, policing in cities does not measure up to popular expectations. There is often criticism that the police are corrupt and inefficient and that no sensible citizen will dare go to a police station for assistance.

There was the recent suicide of an Inspector of Police in Chennai who possibly could not cope with work pressure, especially in the form of investigation into a sensational and clueless murder, and put an end to himself. While it is prudent not to play up this sad occurrence and also unfair to indulge in generalisations, the suicide stands out as an example of what can happen to a police officer who is battling complicated crime and coping with a maddening workload. The need to institutionalise the practice of counselling for the members of an overstretched police force can hardly be overstated. The pressures on urban police are far higher than an essentially rural force, which has fewer cases to handle and more time to respond to a crime or a public order problem, usually away from media glare.

While training and incentives can play a major role in strengthening police professionalism, there is a lot that can be done by way of restructuring the police organisational structure. Little thought is devoted by senior leaders to this subject of providing a new format to police forces so that delivery of service is more acceptable to the common man. One striking feature of the Indian police force is that it is top heavy, with a ridiculous number of Directors General of Police and Additional Directors General of Police. This is widely commented upon by the junior ranks and the constabulary, which is at the bottom of the pyramid.

This has been brought about by the nearly time-bound promotions in the all India services, whereby non-performers and those with an unsavoury reputation also make the grade. What is more significant is that a majority of those at the top do not have enough work to keep themselves occupied. This leads to measurable frustration and consequent jockeying for the few important positions. It is necessary to explore whether such unutilised talent can be deployed to beef up urban policing, of course, without disrupting the command structure.

Nothing should be done to dilute the authority of the Commissioner of Police. It is possible to create special wings that will address major urban problems such as youth violence; trafficking in human beings, especially women and children; peddling drugs; and so on. This is a delicate exercise that will involve fusing of the line of control with operational freedom. This may seem a vague and impractical thought, but it is worth an experiment if the police need to leverage available talent.

The ills of a police station

The police station is the fundamental unit of policing in the country. It is, however, the weakest link in the chain and has brought in a lot of odium to the forces. It suffers from a variety of ills: modest manpower, a faultily constructed building with very limited space, lack of an area for rest and recreation for the men and women who work there, and abysmally poor facilities to receive visitors. These together build an atmosphere of gloom and depression. Should this be so in an era when workplaces are so employee-friendly and hygienic? A change will bring in rich dividends. You provide the ambience. Policemen will thereafter respond with glee and satisfaction.

Is it not possible to build about 100 police stations in each major city that will not be luxury offices but will certainly be clean and comfortable locations where policemen will give their best? A few years ago, private industry came out generously to build several new police stations in Bangalore as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR). This should be emulated by most of the other cities in the country, whereby there is basic infrastructure for the police to provide uninterrupted service to the common man. This would definitely pave the way for better performance in an urban setting.

G.P. SAMPATH KUMAR

A police station in Bangalore. A file photograph. A few years ago, private industry came out generously to build several new police stations in Bangalore as part of its corporate social responsibility.

One chronic complaint against the urban police is that they are tardy in responding to emergency calls. One may recall that in the United States, a police chief’s efficiency is judged almost solely on the time taken by his force in responding to urgent citizen calls for help. His contract will not be extended if his force fails this test.

There is no such public audit in India. I would strongly recommend that every city police force maintain a daily log of the response time and publicise it so that the public get to know how well its police are performing. This will have to be automated so that there is no fudging of the response time. This is the only way one can keep policemen on their toes and seek to raise levels of public satisfaction. This is how one can also enhance police accountability.

Traffic management in all major cities is fast breaking down. It is not merely the volume of traffic that is a major concern. It is equally the shrinking infrastructure available to the management and the growing indiscipline of road users, both those who drive and those who negotiate the thoroughfares on foot. There is a general feeling of helplessness that bodes disaster for the next few years, when traffic will come to a near grinding halt in the six metropolises (including Bangalore and Hyderabad) during peak hours.

This is not a mere police problem as the common man believes. The whole administration will have to rise as one and work in an integrated fashion. Now such coordination is evident only in a small measure. What is absent is the political will to clear pavements that are massively encroached on by hawkers, who have to grease the palms of enforcement personnel, both the city corporation and the police, on a regular basis.

An encroachment-free pavement and a free hand to the police to proceed against drivers of all classes of vehicles and impose a spot fine for violating basic traffic rules can improve the situation greatly. The way our polity is organised offers little hope that there will be professional and ruthless enforcement of the legal provisions available. Those who rule us do not understand the gravity of the present situation.

Unfortunately, such critical civic issues do not figure in election manifestos. As a result, urban policing will continue to be sloppy for many decades to come, much to the chagrin of the law-abiding citizen.

COLUMN

Warning signals

PRAFUL BIDWAI

As the global nuclear industry’s fate hangs in the balance, India must rethink its nuclear power expansion plans and impose a moratorium on new reactors.

TOMOHIRO OHSUMI/BLOOMBERG

A rod containing plutonium-uranium mixed oxide, known as MOX fuel, is being loaded into Reactor No. 3 at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station on August 21, 2010.

“We cannot afford another accident.” This was the categorical comment of Mohamed ElBaradei, then the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General, on a nuclear mishap at a seven-reactor plant at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, the world’s largest nuclear power station, that released 1,200 litres of radioactive water following an earthquake in Japan in July 2007.

The operator of the plant was Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco), which also runs the Fukushima reactors that have just had a huge loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA) following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan. ElBaradei said: “It’s clear that this earthquake, as Tepco … indicated, was stronger than what the reactor was designed for.” The Fukushima reactors are older than those at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa and probably more under-designed. Tepco lied about the 2007 accident by claiming that there had been no radioactivity release. Investigators found that it had unknowingly built the plant on top of an active seismic fault.

Tepco has now plunged the global nuclear industry into its worst crisis since the Chernobyl disaster, whose 25th anniversary falls on April 26. Although the three reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear station have not had a core meltdown at the time of writing, in some ways the crisis is even more severe than the Chernobyl catastrophe. Chernobyl was attributed to a flawed reactor design and sloppy operating practices in industrially backward Ukraine. Fukushima cannot be so attributed. Japan’s nuclear safety standards are supposedly the best in the global nuclear industry.

The accident that the industry “cannot afford” has probably happened. The industry’s fate now hangs precariously in the balance in Japan. If the Fukushima reactors’ cores cannot be rapidly cooled and if a large radioactivity release occurs, with or without a complete core meltdown, the industry’s days may well be numbered. It is already suffering from stagnation and decline: world nuclear power generation peaked in 2006/07 and is falling, as is the number of operating reactors.

The United States’ nuclear industry, which has received no new reactor order since 1973, has not recovered from Three Mile Island (1979). Nor has the European industry overcome the blow delivered by the Chernobyl incident. The “nuclear renaissance” announced by George W. Bush always looked wobbly, with poor economics and a bad “learning curve”: the industry takes almost twice as long to build a reactor now as it did in the 1960s and 1970s. Now, the “renaissance” will probably be terminated as the industry enters a new phase of crisis.

What exactly happened in Japan over the fateful weekend of March 12-13? In the absence of complete information, which neither Tepco nor the Japanese nuclear regulatory agency has parted with, it is hard to reconstruct the precise sequence. But going by analyses by the U.S.-based Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), and other independent experts, the earthquake shut down the three operating reactors at Fukushima, as designed, thereby cutting off the power with which to cool the reactors’ still-hot cores and control rods. As designed, the back-up diesel generators cut in, but an hour later, cut out, for as-yet-unknown reasons.

The core, containing hundreds of tonnes of fuel, started heating up further. As water circulation stopped, more than half the core was exposed in Reactors 3 and 1. It was fully exposed in Reactor 2, which is also in distress now.

The three reactors all suffered a LOCA, which carries the hazard of a partial or complete core meltdown. On March 12, an explosion occurred in the Reactor 1 building, probably caused by accumulated hydrogen. The hydrogen was probably produced by the hot fuel. The detection of significant quantities of caesium-137 outside the reactors suggests that the fuel was damaged. Caesium-137 is a product of the splitting or fissioning of uranium atoms, as is iodine-131. Tepco claims that neither the Reactor 1 vessel nor its primary containment, a steel vessel surrounded by a reinforced concrete shell, was breached. The claim is hard to verify. But the concrete shell could well have been damaged by the two explosions. It is also not known whether the control room and the power cables needed for the emergency equipment used to cool the reactor core, which are located outside the primary containment, were damaged.

At any rate, unspecified quantities of radiation were released. Radiation from Daiichi was detected by a helicopter 100 kilometres away. Of particular significance are iodine-131 (which gets concentrated in the thyroid, leading to cancer) and caesium-137 (which is similar to potassium in its chemical properties and gets easily absorbed in human tissues). These releases have grave health implications. Caesium-137′s half-life is about 30 years, which means it will take a century to decay significantly.

To cool the reactors’ cores, Tepco has been pumping seawater into them with fire-pumps against high pressure. This is an option of last resort and will mean writing off the reactors. Tepco has also been venting contaminated steam and other radioactive vapours from time to time to release high pressure, thus adding to the harm to the public.

To sum up, the Daiichi reactors suffered LOCAs and may yet undergo a core meltdown with catastrophic radiation releases. There is clinching evidence of reactor core/fuel damage from Reactor 1. All three reactors have had explosions. The situation is not under control despite desperate measures.

There are other apprehensions too. Two are important. There are reports that large quantities of spent-fuel rods are stored in the Reactor 1 building in keeping with the General Electric Mark I design. They pose a great hazard because of the site’s flooding under the tsunami. These rods contain tonnes of high-level radioactive waste. Secondly, Reactor 3 uses mixed uranium-plutonium oxide (MOX) fuel in the core. According to Edwin Lyman of the UCS, “the use of MOX generally increases the consequences of severe accidents in which large amounts of radioactive gas and aerosol are released compared to the same accident in a reactor using non-MOX fuel…. Because of this, the number of latent cancer fatalities resulting from an accident could increase by as much as a factor of five for a full core of MOX fuel compared to the same accident with no MOX.”

General Electric’s Mark I design, it emerges, is unusually vulnerable to containment failure in the event of a core meltdown. A recent study by Sandia National Laboratories shows that the likelihood of containment failure is nearly 42 per cent. “The most likely failure scenario involves the molten fuel burning through the reactor vessel, spilling onto the containment floor, and spreading until it contracts and breaches the steel containment-vessel wall. The Sandia National Laboratories report characterises these probabilities as ‘quite high’.”

The crisis in Japan proves what might be called the nuclear version of Murphy’s Law: all that can go wrong will go wrong at some point in a nuclear reactor. Japan is a technologically advanced country, and its safety standards are among the world nuclear industry’s highest. This Fukushima crisis shows that all reactors are vulnerable to the risk of catastrophic accidents irrespective of precautions and safety measures.

The Japan crisis holds a number of lessons for India as it embarks on a massive nuclear power expansion programme, which will double and then further triple India’s nuclear capacity. First, nuclear power generation is inherently hazardous. It is the only form of energy generation that can lead to a catastrophic accident with horrifying long-time consequences in health damage and environmental contamination. Human error or a natural calamity can trigger a catastrophic accident – but only because reactors are themselves vulnerable.

Reactors are high-pressure high-temperature systems in which a high-energy fission chain reaction is only barely controlled. In organisation theory terms, discussed ably by Charles Perrow in his classic Normal Accidents, nuclear reactors are both systemically complex and internally tightly coupled. A fault or malfunction in one subsystem is quickly transmitted to other subsystems and gets magnified until the whole system goes into crisis mode, often in seconds or minutes.

Second, nuclear power involves radiation exposure at all stages of the so-called “nuclear fuel cycle”, from uranium mining and fuel fabrication, to reactor operation and maintenance, to routine emissions, to spent-fuel handling, storage and reprocessing. As this column has discussed earlier, reactors leave a toxic trail of high-level radioactive wastes. These remain hazardous for thousands of years. The half-life of plutonium-239, produced by fission, is 24,000 years. Science has no way of safely storing nuclear wastes for such long periods, let alone neutralising them or disposing of them.

Third, these risks are turning out to be unacceptable. They can only be remedied at a high expense, which would make nuclear power even more exorbitantly expensive than it already is. Fourth, while the industry claims nuclear power is safe, it expends a considerable effort in lobbying for laws that limit the operator’s or supplier’s liability for accidents to artificially low levels.

The objections raised by the U.S. and France to India’s recently passed Nuclear Liability Bill, despite the artificially low limit placed on liability at a few hundred million dollars, signify that the industry acknowledges that nuclear power carries high risks of damage but wants governments – that is, the public – to subsidise and absorb them.

Fifth, India has no independent authority that can evolve safety standards and regulate reactors for safety. The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) is not such an authority. It is dependent for its budget, equipment and personnel on the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and reports to the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), who is also the DAE’s Secretary. Over the four decades and more since the Tarapur reactors were installed, the DAE has merely implemented or copied U.S. and Canadian designs, with minimum modifications. It has shown no ability to improve substantially on existing safety designs, leave alone innovating new ones.

Sixth, the Tarapur reactors are based on General Electric’s (GE) Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) design, similar to the Fukushima reactors, only older, smaller, and possibly with less advanced safety systems. This, coupled with Sandia National Laboratories’ conclusion that its primary containment is fragile, demands a thorough analysis in collaboration with other operators of GE reactors, including Tepco. Meanwhile, it would be prudent to shut down the two Tarapur reactors, which are more than 40 years old and badly contaminated.

Seventh, India must rethink its plans to expand nuclear power generation by importing French, Russian and U.S. reactors, including the untested design of the French company Areva’s European Pressurised Reactors (EPRs), six of which are to be installed at Jaitapur in Maharashtra. These contracts are being given away to foreign companies, without even the pretence of competitive bidding or techno-economic evaluation, as a means of rewarding them for the role their governments and business lobbies played in the completion of the India-U.S. nuclear cooperation deal and its endorsement by the IAEA and the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

These reactors, including the proposed AP-1000 designed by Westinghouse in the U.S., have not passed the approval barrier in any country with a reasonably independent regulatory authority. Their designs have not yet been frozen and their hazards are not fully understood. Besides, their capital costs are far, far higher than those of indigenous reactors, which themselves produce power that is about twice as expensive as electricity from conventional sources, and some renewable sources too. Finally, it would be a grave blunder for India to seek energy security through the nuclear route. The route is bound up with unacceptable hazards and long-term legacies of decommissioning nuclear reactors (which can cost one-third to one-half as much as constructing new ones) and waste storage over centuries.

As energy planners such as A.K.N. Reddy have convincingly shown, India’s energy needs would be best met by a thoughtful combination of conservation; local decentralised systems, including biomass, solar-thermal and wind; and a measure of conventional sources. Besides, there is a huge potential for solar photovoltaics and micro- and mini-hydroelectricity, which has not been tapped. If, as analysts argue, it is possible even for the U.S. to have a low-carbon, non-nuclear future, why should that not be so for India?

After the Japan crisis, the issue of nuclear safety has become paramount. It must take precedence over all else. It would be downright unethical to sacrifice safety in order to appease an industry that has failed the world or to please the technocratic nuclear elite that considers itself infallible, omniscient and above the public interest. Japan’s greatest lesson is that human societies and institutions must not become slaves to the nuclear industry.

NEW DELHI: It was BJP’s turn yet again to be hit by Wikileaks cables with a US diplomat reporting that its senior leader Arun Jaitley had remarked to him that Hindu nationalism is an “opportunistic issue” for his party.

“Pressed on the question of Hindutva, Jaitley argued that Hindu nationalism ‘will always be a talking point’ for the BJP. However, he characterized this as an opportunistic issue,” a cable by Robert Blake, the Charge at the US Embassy, to his government, had said after a meeting with Jaitley on May 6, 2005.

Jaitley, however, maintained that he had not used the word ” oppurtunistic” while Congress attacked him saying those living in glass houses should not throw stones at others.

The cable by Blake said, “in India’s northeast, for instance, Hindutva plays well because of public anxiety about illegal migration of Muslims from Bangladesh.

“With the recent improvement of Indo-Pak relations, he (Jaitley) added, Hindu nationalism is now less resonant in New Delhi, but that could change with another cross-border terrorist attack, for instance on the Indian Parliament,” the cable, accessed by The Hindu, said.

Jaitley, the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha whom the cable described as “one of several aspirants to direct the next generation of BJP leadership”, said in a statement that the word oppourtunistic in reference to Hindutva could be the “diplomat’s own usage”.

He said the cable by the diplomat in 2005 makes a reference to his conversation with him. “The cable reflects my views on cross-border terrorism, illegal infiltration from Bangladesh and the unfair denial of US Visa to the Gujarat Chief Minister (Narendra Modi).

“However, the use of the word “opportunistic” in reference to nationalism or Hindu nationalism is neither my view nor my language. It could be the diplomat’s own usage,” he said.

Losing no oppurtunity to corner BJP which is attacking the UPA over Wikileaks, Congress told the BJP that those who live in glass houses should not throw stones at others.

“Chickens are coming to roost, what goes out wrongly hits back like a boomerang. People living in glass houses are taught in this manner that they were to throw stones at others,” Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said

Comments (88)

Recommended (41)

Prakash (Bengaluru)31 mins ago (06:32 PM)

By saying “Hindutva is an opportunistic issue for BJP” he is indirectly saying BJP has successfully foolished people by asking votes on the name of religion the same way how Congress has foolished people by asking votes on name of Aam Admi.Agree (2)Recommend (1)

Nikhil (Mumbai)45 mins ago (06:18 PM)

Congress govt is using its money power to influence wikileaks reports, d report pertaining to Arun Jaitley’s comment came just after opposition targeted govt on similar kind of wikileak report in regard with cash for votes scam. We have to agree BJP has given good governance in their tenure.Agree (1)Disagree (6)Recommend (1)

sunil (India)59 mins ago (06:04 PM)

-Wasn’t congress named in the first wiki-bomb that after 26/11, congress jumped the opportunism-card and wooed muslims to vote for them or else get punished? -Also, didn’t wiki-bomb expose the opportunism card being played by congress on Afzal punishment case? -As per Jaitely’s Hindutva opportunism, it is well known that if BJP get the votes on deveopmental planks, it is okay, but opportunism of getting additional votes due to Hindutva agendas are welcome too, a secondary thing. -So nothing wrong in the statement, except the way these media houses are bringing them out of context, due to maybe again Manish Tiwary talking to the editor of The Hindu, Mr.Ram.Agree (2)Disagree (5)Recommend (4)

vinod-gsk (bangalore)1 hr ago (05:54 PM)

its 100% betrayal………….. i appeal to my Hindu and Muslim brother to elect parties based on development not on religion or cast , failing which the result is in front of you today.Agree (9)Disagree (1)Recommend (1)

sunil (india) replies to vinod-gsk55 mins ago (06:08 PM)

-Again BJP comes to mind, on developmental agenda! -Wasn’t congress named in the first wiki-bomb that after 26/11, congress jumped the opportunism-card and wooed muslims to vote for them or else get punished? -Also, didn’t wiki-bomb expose the opportunism card being played by congress on Afzal punishment case? -As per Jaitely’s Hindutva opportunism, it is well known that if BJP get the votes on deveopmental planks, it is okay, but opportunism of getting additional votes due to Hindutva agendas are welcome too, a secondary thing. -So nothing wrong in the statement, except the way these media houses are bringing them out of context, due to maybe again Manish Tiwary talking to the editor of The Hindu, Mr.Ram.Agree (3)Disagree (5)Recommend (1)

Madrasee (Chennai)1 hr ago (05:51 PM)

BJP is playing with sentiments of Hindus and Muslims equally. On one side they want to bring Hindu nationalism – at the same time visiting Ajmer Dharghas and praising Jinaah etc., Now, accepting Hindutva is nothing but opportunistic to play politics. Actually, we do not need Wikileaks to expose BJP’s politics. It is known for years.Agree (9)Disagree (6)

Let me add my 2 cents of comment here. All politicians,regardless of their political leanings, are crooks.Agree (3)Disagree (1)Recommend (1)

Babu (Banglore)1 hr ago (05:42 PM)

BJP and Yeddurappa hold on to power in Karnataka by hook or crook just for Money from the mines running into several crores. The greed for money has driven them to run corupt government. karnatak feels that we should get good govt. not these jokers. In BJP rule in Karnataka no focus on the devlopment rather then focussing on the horse trading to keep them selves in the posts.Agree (9)Disagree (3)Recommend (1)

Munnabhai MBA (Mumbai)1 hr ago (05:40 PM)

At least he is only seeking votes not buying them !! Again what chicken is the Congress keeping on harping about!!Agree (5)Disagree (4)Recommend (4)

free_verse (delhi)1 hr ago (05:23 PM)

Congress has played the MUSLIM APPEASMENT card for decades to be in power. It is only natural that parties talking for opposite interests will be welcome and gain popularity. And such parties will obviously use this to their benefit. I know ONE THING and that is if Congress had not played VOTEBANK politics, there would not have been the need for so called hindu nationalism. Congress continues to indulge in appeasement. Wikileaks mentioned that Afzal Guru is not being hanged to take care of Indian muslims’ sentiments (which is nothing but an insult to indian muslims – as if they would support a terrorist). Congress continues to manage its relations with Iran, Israel according to the need for their muslim appeasement (as per Wikileaks).Agree (7)Disagree (5)Recommend (4)

West Towel Towel (not near gslv launchpad)1 hr ago (05:20 PM)

who cares modi for pmAgree (3)Recommend (2)

aloena (India) replies to West Towel Towel50 mins ago (06:13 PM)

Pune would have generated more jobs in the last 5 years than the whole of Gujarat. Gujaratis are going to Mumbai/Pune because of lack of opportunities in Gujarat. Even the US embassy has a Gujarati counter, because there are so many gujaratis trying to flee Gujarat. If Modi becomes PM, Indians will have to flee India. But, where will all the Indians go?

Sunil (Ranchi)2 hrs ago (05:01 PM)

In politics opportunism is way of life. and it is not new fenemina.there is long history of this. Either it is BJP or Congress they play the opportunist game when it suit them. In present day poltics to be successful as politician one must know which side is bread is buttered . It is power poltics. Everything is justified in present poltics.There will be allegation and counter allegation that they have not uttered the word but by act they have shown several time that they are opportunist. Further the coaltion politics is itself is a poltics of opportunity. No principles and ideology are involved. We shamlessly hearing their statement and sermon on this issue . What wikileak has quoted as Mr Jaitly’s word may or may not be his word but can he deny that whole ideologies of BJP is not on opportunism. We need not go in details but is Congress is in postion to attack BJP? because there is long history of opprtunism by them also .Even Chankya has used it and got sucess . Therfoer it is not big question and matter of debate. yes we can debate that who is most successful opportunist in this century in Indian politics The 1st name comes in our mind is once upon Mr Hanuman Mr Mulayam singh who was paraded as machiavele in indian poltics.Agree (1)Disagree (1)

Lal Mahosh (Karumalan)2 hrs ago (04:53 PM)

After the Ramjanabhoomi-Baberi masjid issue losts its appeal among the Hindu masses, BJP invented ‘terrorism games’ to turn the Hindu majority against Muslims. BJP(RSS/Abhinav Bharat,etc.) in collusion with its affiliates in the police forces and IB, launched terrorism bombings and attacks, especially just before the general elections, and blamed Muslims from the crimes, thereby turning the Hindus against Muslims and prompting them to vote for BJP. BJP won Karnataka election because of the blasts at Jaipur. Now, its involvement in terrorist bombings being discovered, nobody knows what destructive technique it will resort to incease its popularity. Tired of sitting in the opposition, BJP stalwarts are upset that only the Hindu leaders of Congress party are plundering the public money and they are not receiving the chances. I am of the opinion that Congress ministers should agree on letting the BJP leaders also to plunder the public money , so that they will keep silent.Agree (4)Disagree (2)Recommend (1)

Raj Kumar Jha (Ranchi , India)2 hrs ago (04:42 PM)

Arun Jaitley might not have used the word “opportunistic” to describe BJP’s main plank , Hindutwa , yet the fact remains that politicians espouse public policy only for public consumption . Their main motive remains to garner public support to enhance their own private interest , i e . to get power .Agree (6)Disagree (3)Recommend (1)

Thomas (Dubai)2 hrs ago (04:36 PM)

Now BJP is at the receiving end they are now getting beaten by the same stick they tried to beat congress with “Wikileaks”, BJP’s trusted source of ammunition to foment trouble for the congres inside and outside the parliament. Let us hear what BJP leaders have to say about the statement made by Mr Jaitely because they and their party are strong believers in Wikileaks and always in the frontline firing at congress. Certainly people of India should congratulate Mr Arun Jaitely for stating the truth that BJP is plying opportunistic politics on the issue of Hinduism”. Now the citizen of India can draw their on conclusion about the motive and agenda of this party which created so much of problem for our secular Indian nation by plying communical politics.Agree (12)Disagree (6)Recommend (5)

vinod-gsk (bangalore)2 hrs ago (04:30 PM)

This a clear proof of our leader exploiting and cheating us and we like fools fight with each others.Agree (10)Disagree (1)Recommend (3)

Raaj (Crazy world)2 hrs ago (04:22 PM)

@Mr.shaan dont try to play with the word, I am sure Mr.jaitly will also try to play with words as he is superem courts lawyer and know better how to play with words. we are real fools who believes in these kind of politicians. when you didnot allow parliament to work on wikileaks discloser and now you wants us to believe in your story. sorry Mr.Jaitly. this time not for sure.Agree (1)

M.Farooque (Mumbai)2 hrs ago (04:06 PM)

This is a true and great revealation………let’s see how it plays out.

Shaan (Chennai, India)3 hrs ago (03:59 PM)

The cable says “he characterized this as an opportunistic issue”. It does not say he said it so. It is the diplomat’s inference. If it was Jaitley’s language the cable would have enclosed it in quotes as they have enclosed his comment that Hindutva “will always be a talking point” for the BJP.Agree (6)Disagree (15)Recommend (4)

Siddhartha (Delhi) replies to Shaan2 hrs ago (04:58 PM)

Tujhe kaise pata? Ab teri kyon jali deshdrohi?Agree (5)Disagree (3)

fzy (India) replies to Shaan2 hrs ago (04:33 PM)

Another one like Jaitley, may tbe this is Jaitley himself. Double-speak written all over this post. When the shoe is on the other foot then you say that wikileaks is the “TRUTH” now now this is not true and this is not my language etc. Please mister we now have two persons cornered on their double speak and lies and still you say no no ?? what a jaundiced and blatant blind supporter, at any cost even if proved that the post is making his absurdity very clear to event the most casual readerAgree (2)Disagree (1)Recommend (2)

Chandrika (Chennai)3 hrs ago (03:59 PM)

It is nothing new in Indian politics. Is it? We have already known all parties to have certain ways of wooing people for nothing good for the people of the country but to meet their opportunistic ends only. Wikileaks is only proving to be more convincing! Come on, we people are not so very blind and stupid, not to realise this too!

nitin (del)3 hrs ago (03:56 PM)

The real cable extract: As you will see below: the cable quotes the american diplomat “he characterised this as an opportunistic issue”. These are the words of american diplomat and not of Jaitley. The diplomat is not really clear as to how Jaitley “characterise” it as an opportunistic issue. What he tells subsequently is just this: the hindutva issue comes to front when some big incident happens. An person having eyes and brains can see that there is absolutely nothing in that cable that goes against Jaitley or BJP. Pressed on the question of Hindutva, Jaitley argued that Hindu nationalism “”will always be a talking point”" for the BJP. However, he characterized this as an opportunistic issue. In India’s northeast, for instance, Hindutva plays well because of public anxiety about illegal migration of Muslims from Bangladesh. With the recent improvement of Indo-Pak relations, he added, Hindu nationalism is now less resonant in New Delhi, but that could change with another cross-border terrorist attack, for instance on the Indian Parliament.Disagree (1)

K.A.Ravi (Thrissur)3 hrs ago (03:48 PM)

All human beings born on earth are Hindus. They can be compartmentalized by certain process of man made laws to his disadvantage during course of time by so called religious people,politicians and many destructive forces.The comment on BJP leader ‘s remark as exposed by WikiLeaks has no relevance and those who sit inside self made glass room will get definite impact.

karavadiraghavarao (Vijayawada-)3 hrs ago (03:13 PM)

Late Jawaharlal Nehru in his Discovery of India said that Hinduism is the Soul of India.He attributed the credit for all foreign invaders getting Indianized to the power of Hinduism.All mountains,rive and places in Hindu Mythology are in the Bharathavarsha described in ancient Hindu Scriptures.BJP is using Hinduism to its advantage because all other parties and their leaders are feeling shy to proclaim themselves as Hindus with the fear that they loose the voted of minorities particularly Muslims.If all the Secular Leaders declare boldly that they are as much Hindu as Narendra Modi and Mohan Bhagavat the prominence of the latter will go down. But those ‘secular leaders’ do not do thatAgree (17)Disagree (14)Recommend (9)

Ali (Hyderabad) replies to karavadiraghavarao1 hr ago (05:23 PM)

It,s does not matter if person declare Hindu or Muslim. he should not be communal in nature. unless we all Indians co-operate and work together it difficult to developed. Pakistan and china are taking heavy advantage of our religion and communal thinking.We should give vote to a party on the bases of their policies and development programs to all the IndiansAgree (2)

Atul Gupta (Delhi) replies to karavadiraghavarao1 hr ago (05:05 PM)

When u dont know the true meaning of Hinduism, what is the need to display it wrongly in favour of currupt leaders? The Hinduism, what Nehru ji referred, is not a religion but it is the identity of all the people living in the Sapt-Saindhav Region, including Pakistan and Afganistan, irrespective of the religion of the residents of the land!Agree (1)Recommend (1)

Atul Gupta (Delhi) replies to karavadiraghavarao2 hrs ago (05:03 PM)

When you don’t know the true meaning of Hinduism, what is the need to display it wrongly in favour of currupt leaders? The Hinduism, what Nehru ji referred, is not a religion but it is the identity of all the people living in the Sapt-Saindhav Region, including Pakistan and Afganistan, irrespective of the religion of the residents of the land!Agree (2)Recommend (2)

some how we fooled because of this blind believe in our leaderAgree (1)Disagree (1)

William (Sharjah) replies to karavadiraghavarao2 hrs ago (04:21 PM)

How in India any one can neglect or feel shy to declare himself/herself as Hindu. With 85% Hindu population how any party can win on the basis of minority appeasement???. These are all BJP propaganda. Congress is weak in these kind of propaganda or else with this one statement they could have destroyed BJP by taking it to the people and projecting it loudly through the news channel, papers etc which is cheap politics. Congress has to be proactive in taking action against corruption and scams, it will win the next election hands down else it will go down in the next election.Disagree (1)

Ranjan (Mumbai) replies to karavadiraghavarao2 hrs ago (04:09 PM)

Vijaywada to Vadhodra- 20 to 25 yrs difference.

nitin (del) replies to karavadiraghavarao3 hrs ago (03:40 PM)

May I add that for all his good intentions Mr. Nehru was only repeating what his english masters taught him? Old Indian civilization was even more advanced than this current world. But since modern historian begins with the presumption that “history can only move forward” no other advanced civilization could have existed and all this started with apes, so the history Nehru preaches is also a fake one.

Uday Muthal (Nagpur)3 hrs ago (03:12 PM)

I think wikileaks is a Weaky-Leaks. I am not ready to accept any statements they have published. These are just the statements with ‘Mirch-Masala’. The BJP is BJP, as soon as RSS is there with BJP they will not go to wrong path. I think no leader in India can challenge the Great Narendra Modi, with his administrative capacity, and management skills, he is a master. These kind of leaders are getting emerged from grass root level, they are not comfort loving, they are work loving, and do not indulge in any corruption. This happenes because of ‘Sanskars’ of RSS. Nothing to explain. One day world will recognise the abilities of Modi. I am going to vote for him, if he stand as a PM candidate. And one thing, no diciple of RSS, will talk like this with any agency like wikileaks. this is the truth.Agree (5)Disagree (15)Recommend (2)

Hari om (Surat) replies to Uday Muthal2 hrs ago (04:37 PM)

double standards :P hindutva jerks seriously su ck :) were is the radical terrorist gompiepie and wat bending of truth will he do now? :DAgree (5)

Rajaram Kundlu (Nagpur) replies to Uday Muthal2 hrs ago (04:26 PM)

You have mention that it is weaky leaks, but it look you to be very weak and sick. You are right that no one can challenge the planning skill of Modi, when he has killed more than 2000 innocent people of his own state. You are right to talk about RSS sanskar, which all have seen in the bomb blasts all over the country, if these are the sanskar given by RSS to col. Pruhit, Sunil Joshi and all others involve, then you can see the future SANSKARS of RSS.Agree (7)Disagree (1)Recommend (2)

p.iyer (Riyadh KSA) replies to Uday Muthal2 hrs ago (04:06 PM)

Uday Muthalji, US Government is all out behind Assenge to book him for publishing these cables. The solder who leaked these documents to Wikileak is arrested. U think this all done if these documents are rubish as u claim? Wikileak is leaking slectively documents according to the current political situation going around and has not dumped all the materials it have with it. Governments all over world are paniked and even your foot on mouth spokes person of UPA Singvi is coming out with comments.

Mohan Menon (Ahmedabad)3 hrs ago (03:06 PM)

Power mongering politicians do not know as to what they are talking. Even before Jaitley’s comment, BJP was known for its opportunism and double standards. At one point of time, BJP could highlight Gujarat as a laboratory of its Hindutva plank for capturing power and now for sustaining in power, Gujarat CM Narendra Modi is making his drastic efforts to expose that muslims are not untouchable to Gujarat politics. Even the Gods are in confusion as to what type of politics our power mongering policians want to administer in this country? One thing is certain Gandhiji was not having kurtas and pyjamas having pockets and that is why he could still alive in our minds – a pocket, that can be trusted forever where his idelogies can alive.Agree (14)Disagree (7)Recommend (7)

Atul (Delhi) replies to Mohan Menon1 hr ago (05:13 PM)

Gandhiji was the greatest leader of this age. He’s a true leader. None can deny…Agree (2)

nitin (del)3 hrs ago (03:06 PM)

Could anyone please paste an actual extract of that cable here? can’t find it. And from the news in hindu it seems Mr. Jaitleys opinion of US is influenced too much by his personal and commercial interests. That shouldn’t have overruled national interests. All politicians need to be reminded that not many countries these days are looking for a “closer” relationship with US.Agree (5)Disagree (5)Recommend (3)

thedre (Goa) replies to nitin3 hrs ago (03:36 PM)

32279 5/10/2005 10:14 05NEWDELHI3505 Embassy New Delhi CONFIDENTIAL “This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.” “C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 003505

Dr. Ambekar (LONDON UK)3 hrs ago (03:05 PM)

My personal view is that the Political leaders should not have private view and Party view on the matters of national security and National economic interests. Speaking to US, UK, France German diplomats why we do have two different views on the National Issues? I fail to understand why we need to degrade ourselves when we speak to Western Diplomats? Do the western Diplomats observe similar Private and Party view with their national security and economic interests? When David Miliband visited India he attributed the Jihadi activities in India is as a result of Kashmir Issue. (His anti-India stand was public) When the Indian Political leaders will learn the language the western politicians talk? Dr. Ambekar.Agree (6)Disagree (1)Recommend (1)

BHAGAVATH (Delhi)3 hrs ago (03:04 PM)

WHY WIKILEAK IS NOT TELLING ABOUT CRISTIANS AND VATICAN TALK WITH SONIA, IF SO THAT WILL BE MORE INTRESTINGAgree (5)Disagree (4)Recommend (4)

SHAJU (Dubai)4 hrs ago (02:59 PM)

Dear Friends, Do Our Nation still Belive in BJP!!! It is real shame, Both BJP & Congress are same in Polices and looting the Nation ( recent one VSNL land Issue), Until we dont find alternatives for this theives we will die in between these two.Agree (8)Disagree (6)Recommend (1)

nitin (del) replies to SHAJU3 hrs ago (03:10 PM)

communism is no alternative either. Remember stalin? Hitler? Mussolini? Mao? But you are right, BJP and cogress are almost the same. However, I am not sure who is different. Please do suggest some names and let us see what do you mean.Agree (3)Disagree (2)Recommend (1)

R.C.Mohan (Kuwait)4 hrs ago (02:59 PM)

What is wrong in being opportunistic in Hindutwa? How many Hindus are proud about their religion? Pseudo-secularist becomes an elite citizen in India if he is a Hindu and preaches against Hindutwa and euologise other religions. So someone should be a real secularist even if he has to be opportunistic sometimes to safeguard the interest of a particular religion he belongst to. All are opportunists and all are taking people for a clean ride. The people are just victims of these pseudo secular fascists.Agree (5)Disagree (9)Recommend (4)

why you fuckoff sitting in Kuwait, come and do propoganda of ur hindutva, you hypocrites you will never live peacefully and never allow others to live peacefulyAgree (4)Disagree (1)Recommend (1)

Aazam Yousuf (India) replies to R.C.Mohan3 hrs ago (03:38 PM)

Mr. Mohan are you equally vocal about your political sentiments in the country where you are currently employed?? why are u working in a country belonging to the followers of religion which teaches terror and call all non-believers, infidel.Agree (4)Disagree (2)Recommend (1)

esgee (kuala lumpur) replies to Aazam Yousuf2 hrs ago (04:28 PM)

don’t you see from his posting that he believes in opportunism?Agree (2)Disagree (1)Recommend (1)

nitin (del)4 hrs ago (02:58 PM)

Remember that India is a country of very diverse cultures. If western powers ever wanted to pull “arabian peninsula” act most of us will be playing in there hands because our govts. intelligence is a straw puppet. A big riot and soon some part of country will see a necessary armed intervention to control it and international community will call it “brutalising own people” and Nato will be here in no time. And we will be fighting over punjabi, bihari, marathi, tamil etc. etc. and playing in hands of wikileaks, CIA, ISI and who knows even in hands of rogue elements of our own agencies and polity.Agree (2)Disagree (2)Recommend (1)

ABBHANDARY (BANGALORE)4 hrs ago (02:54 PM)

hindutva is a concept and way of living truely sobre and secular. i am at a loss to understand why this congress is making a hue and cry at mention of the word hidu or hindutva. IN HINDU OR HINDUTVA YOU CAN SEE NO SENSE OF CRIMINALITY BUT THAT TEACHES AND PREACHES RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE AND ADVOCATES UNIVERSAL BROTHERHOOD AND UNIVERSAL PEACE. RESPECT TO HUMANITY . IT ALWAYS ADVOCATES TO SHUN VIOLENCE AND NOT SHED BUT HATRED. THE JACKALS IN THE GARB HINDUS WHO NEVER TRIED TO KNOW WHAT HINDUISM UP TO ARE CIRCUMVENTING TO MAKE SHORT RUN POLITICAL GAIN SHAMELESSLY DEGRADED A RELIGION THAT EXPECTS THE HUMAN RACE TO IMBIBE ALL THE GOODNESS IN IT SILENTLY WITH OUT EXPECTING THEM TO CHANGE THEIR ORIGINAL FAITH. IT ADVOCATES THE MOST ACCEPTABLE THEORY THAT THERE IS ONE GOD BUT ONLY ADDRESSED WITH DIFFERENT NAMES. THIS MEANS ANY ONE WHO IS WORSHIPING GOD BY ANY NAME IS THE REAL GOD FOR HINDUS. AND THAT SIGNIFIES UNIVERSAL BROTHERHOOD AND THERE CAN’T BE ANY SCOPE FOR HATREDNESS IN ANY FORM ANY WHERE. THE PEOPLE WHO TALK AGAINST IT ARE ONLY BETRAYERS OF HUMANITY AND ADVOCATERS OF HATRED FOR THEIR CHEAP VOTE BANK POLITICS.( I DOUBT IF THIS ARTICLE IS ACCEPTABLE FOR TOI).Agree (6)Disagree (4)Recommend (3)

Lal Mahosh (Karumalan) replies to ABBHANDARY2 hrs ago (04:25 PM)

Yes, Modi’s massacre of fifteen thousand Muslims and destruction of houses and properties of millions of Muslims were also actions of Hindutva!!!!!

nitin (del) replies to ABBHANDARY3 hrs ago (03:36 PM)

You are absolutely right. However, the real religion you are talking about is in absolute contradiction to theory of religion based on books. And everybody knows that when people believe in books or saints or prophets then problems are created. That is too touchy a matter. As I result most people will never accept it although admittedly it is the best and the ONLY true religion.

nitin (del)4 hrs ago (02:53 PM)

Let me guess… Just a day before it was that Mr. Jaitley who said that the “birthright to be PM” as said by Manmohan singh was a reference to Rahul gandhi. And the next day that man is targetted by wikileaks. I would like to reiterate what I have been saying on various fora: Wikileaks is a US sponsored cyber-warfare device. And it is directly responsible for what is going-on in the arab world nowadays. Maybe some of cables are true. But which? To determine we need to summon the american diplomats and also investigate all their communication in the past years. How many of US tourists coming to India are spies is difficult to say, but there may be a lot. Otherwise how come those diplomats could peek in the drawing rooms of even the smallest and biggest politicians? We should also investigate if some people from indian angencies themselves are sold out to US…Agree (7)Disagree (5)Recommend (2)

Vicky (Kerala)4 hrs ago (02:52 PM)

This shows the true colour of BJP, which they do always…They fool people….pity those people…still some fools support them…Agree (7)Disagree (6)Recommend (4)

Sidharth (Chandigarh)4 hrs ago (02:23 PM)

Is BJP trying to convince Indians that this the only Party who spoke Truth why they people dont accept what they said to foreignersAgree (10)Disagree (5)Recommend (1)

sharath (mysore)4 hrs ago (02:21 PM)

What is wrong with opportunistic hindutva, if muslim appeasing policy by way of job reservations is right, manipulating hindu sentiments for vote gains is also right, majority should rule in democracy, minority has their rights but must not be allowed to dictate terms to anybody,Agree (10)Disagree (14)Recommend (6)

Lal Mahosh (karumalan) replies to sharath2 hrs ago (04:28 PM)

Minority is dictating terms in India!!! That is why Modi massacred fifteen thousand members of the minorities, Bal Thackeray another fifteen thousands, Advani another fifteen thousands, Vajpayee another fifteen thousands!!!!

bcd (APD Delhi)4 hrs ago (02:21 PM)

Conntes of the wiki reflects that Mr Jaitley is an honest and transparent. Whatever published in Wiki, the same he also speaks openly. Ofcourse part of agenda of BJP. Nothing is hiding. Similar wiki also applied in the case of Narendra Modi. I am sure, if unfoled wiki to be opened pertains to BJP, nothing can be differentiate with their normal talking to the media and masses. But but, if the wiki leakes for cong people, you will notice all are wearing the mask to fool people. Rahul Gandhi’s case, it was told he fear hindu terror than other terrorist (giving certificate to all terrorist including 26/11 at Mumbai). If yo take recent stron on PC, he the master to divide India with more ahead, he needs only south and west for India. I fear if PC is also planning to handover NOrth and east India to Pak ? or whom. You name any one from cong about wiki, you will find contradictory than their public life (wearing mask?).Agree (11)Disagree (12)Recommend (6)

JAJ (Chennai) replies to bcd4 hrs ago (02:59 PM)

Jaitley’s honesty had been already exposed when Tehelka came out to expose his crooked intent to entrap UPA on the cash for vote scam.Agree (6)Disagree (7)Recommend (3)

Renga Reddy (kadappa) replies to JAJ3 hrs ago (03:53 PM)

Yes JAJ, If Jaitley is honest, he would have asked for a probe against Tehelka. He just ducked when Tehelka exposed the cheap tactics of Jaitley and Advani. On the other occasions these guys zealously asked for probe on everything against UPA.Agree (4)Disagree (1)Recommend (1)

nedumpally (Trichy) replies to bcd4 hrs ago (02:45 PM)

Oh Mr.BCD, Have you read the article above. Mr. Jaitley said the Hindutva is an opportunistic gimmick for vote. Do you think he will repeat it before public. You will persecute him instantly. Do you justify 1000s of lives spoiled here in India for BJP’s Hindutva gimmick?Agree (11)Disagree (9)Recommend (6)

Dr. Kartikay Pandey (Lucknow)4 hrs ago (02:19 PM)

This speaks volumes about the real character of the BJP. This also proves that they are neither sincere about any of their issues, nor do they love the country. It was this very BJP, which had escorted several terrorists to Kandhar, and set them free. The BJP was also responsible for the Kargil intrusion, and the untimely death of hundreds of our soldiers. After Mulayam killed hundreds of innocent Karsewaks in Ayodhya, in1990, the BJP had roamed the whole country with their ashes (which is wrong as per religion as they are meant to be immersed in the Ganges only), and vowed repeatedly to punish the perpetrators of the heinous crime, once in power. After have ruled the center, as well as UP, for so many years, they did not even file an FIR, or initiate any enquiry/investigation into the matter, in which they had claimed that people from Arab/Muslim countries had been invited by Mulayam, and they killed Hindus, wearing a UP police uniform. They only raise the Temple, 370, Muslim terrorism/infiltration issues during election season only. Neither do they ever talk about reclaiming our occupied territory from China and Pak. Several BJP leaders including Sushma Swaraj, P. Mahajan, Jaitley, etc., have a shady past, and several scandals of various kinds are associated with them, and their personal life. They will never let Modi become the PM, as they themselves will stand exposed, and politically assassinated. I initially felt that BJP has the will and commitment for nation building, like many other Indians, but the fact is that they are comfort loving, hypocrats, who do not even know the essence of the pure soil of Bharatvarsha. They have broken the trust of their electorate. This is the very reason of their repeated electoral debacles. Email: drkartikaypandey@gmail.comAgree (14)Disagree (11)Recommend (11)

nitin (del) replies to Dr. Kartikay Pandey3 hrs ago (03:19 PM)

don’t mention article 370 in the same vein. That is a very legitimate issue. While we fund the Kashmiri people, the displaced Hindus are refugees in their own country. Kashmiris can work, buy house, study and roam free anywhere in India but we cannot buy a house or get a job anywhere in Kashmir. so stop talking non-sense. And all that despite the fact that hindus have been permanent residents of Kashmir since remotest antiquity.Agree (1)Disagree (3)

nitin (del) replies to Dr. Kartikay Pandey3 hrs ago (03:15 PM)

Never talk about Kandhar in same vein. Did you want all those people to die? Who would you have liked those get them freed? By getting involved in a war which was concern of US, Pakis and taliban? Wouldn’t you see a lot more hijackings and bomb-blasts as a result?Agree (1)Disagree (3)

nimish (BANGALORE) replies to Dr. Kartikay Pandey3 hrs ago (03:07 PM)

very rightly said Mr Pandey… How can people of this country forget religion politics of BJP & cast politics of VP SINGH in 90s..this divided the whole nation ..people lost lifes in communal riots.. people lost right to get good jobs due to reservation…BJP HAVE BETRAYED THE TRUST OF 100 CRORE HINDUS OF THIS COUNTRY…i hope people realizes that atleast now..Agree (6)Disagree (2)Recommend (3)

Dinesh (USA)4 hrs ago (02:10 PM)

This must be from DIGGY cable.Agree (5)Disagree (4)Recommend (2)

Hari om (Surat) replies to Dinesh2 hrs ago (04:41 PM)

double standards. wikileaks are accepted irrespective of who its against. people like u will jump at UPA but when its BJP guilty then poof fake leaks indeed. sic kos

NAYEEM (BHARAT)4 hrs ago (02:10 PM)

The Sangh Parivar has collected more than 700 Crores in the name of RAM temple and then what happened nobody knows.Agree (7)Disagree (4)Recommend (3)

Chikka Gowda (Hassan)4 hrs ago (02:07 PM)

Don’t believe this revelation of the Wikileak. There could be a conspiracy against Jaitley. But the revelation – vote for cash scam by UPA can be believable.Agree (9)Disagree (16)Recommend (5)

ceree009 (S India) replies to Chikka Gowda4 hrs ago (02:50 PM)

When WikiLeak talks about BJP, ‘don’t believe’. If it’s about UPA, it can be believable.!!!Agree (7)Disagree (4)Recommend (3)

JAJ (Chennai) replies to Chikka Gowda4 hrs ago (02:36 PM)

Tehelka had exposed that vote for cash scam is orchestrated by BJP to entrap UPA. If the three BJP leaders are not involved as it has been revealed by Tehelka, they would have sought for a CBI inquiry or a JPC on Tehelka’s revelation. They have not asked for any enquiry, rather keeping very silent on this.Agree (8)Disagree (6)Recommend (5)

Sanu PG (Trichy) replies to Chikka Gowda4 hrs ago (02:25 PM)

Good sarcasm. Really pity on the right wing.Agree (6)Disagree (5)Recommend (2)

Dillip Roy (calcutta) replies to Chikka Gowda4 hrs ago (02:20 PM)

Chikka Gowda, I think you also have share in the scams in which your Karnataka government is involved. Don’t write nonsenseAgree (10)Disagree (4)Recommend (3)

nitin (del) replies to Dillip Roy3 hrs ago (03:24 PM)

Please do post the statistics of the agricultural produce and industrial production of W. Bengal. I have been wondering how the bengali guys manage to live. They must all be farmers. Is it true? Don’t get me wrong. Farming is an honest means of living. Just curious how that communist govt. survived so long without developing any industries. Again, please remember I am really curious.Agree (1)Disagree (3)

I like BJP (your neighbourer) replies to nitin2 hrs ago (04:41 PM)

you wanted BJP Govt there and have some riots and have some blast and blame one community and kill them mercilessly and then grab the land and denotify them, yeah you BJP RSS mind people expect this only and if other than BJP party is ruling greatly they are bad rulers and if BJP is ruling cheaply they doing excellent, you hypocritesDisagree (1)

Roy (Nagpur)5 hrs ago (02:01 PM)

What more do these Hindu party clowns need to do…contradict themselves…shoot themselves in the foot …more importantly blabber praises about themselves. Hey dinwitted Hindu BJP/RSS party empathizers…they say you’re an opportunistic bunch….whats rave review or is it the usual rant? Clowns the whole bunchAgree (5)Disagree (4)Recommend (3)

nitin (del) replies to Roy3 hrs ago (03:27 PM)

Roy. You must be someone who converted to christianity for sake of a few rupees. If you can do such a thing for just a few rupees what politicians (of all hues) won’t do for thousands of crores of rupees?Agree (3)Disagree (4)

Roy (Nagpur) replies to nitin3 hrs ago (04:02 PM)

Hey dimiwt Nitin…I am Hindu & think all you perverted & bigoted Hindu’s show the religion in bad light. Get hold of yourself..introspect…you are no better than the Taliban ilk.Agree (3)Disagree (1)Recommend (2)

NK Iyer (cochin)5 hrs ago (01:59 PM)

BJP guys are distressing the people. They incite communal riots with their rath yatras for the sake of Hindutva which is now exposed to be an opportunistic issue for them to garner votes. Many people have lost their lives and homes due to BJP’s opportunistic issues. I request BJP leaders to introspect themselves and repent to build our nationAgree (18)Disagree (15)Recommend (11)

J.B.Bhatt (Vapi) replies to NK Iyer4 hrs ago (02:20 PM)

Congress is the root cause of all major problems which we are facing now. No doubt it has been done some good deeds but looking to the ruling span, got negative credit, always.Agree (8)Disagree (9)Recommend (3)

Lal Mahosh (Karumalan) replies to J.B.Bhatt2 hrs ago (04:43 PM)

Not only Congress but also corrupt and crooked leaders of BJP,CPM, DMK, AIDMK and Janata Dal are also route causes of all problems.If India had a law similar to that of China with regard to financial corruption, all these politicians would not have been alive today. During the rein of BJP, ministers like Shourie who were always talking against corruption when they were not ministers, also received kickbacks by selling profit makisng public sector companies to capitalists and amassed as much public wealth as possible. Only Maoists can save the country from the present situation. But later Maoists will also become like Stalin and we will have to look for other puritans.

shree (blr)5 hrs ago (01:56 PM)

it is a known fact that these all issues are just gimmicks and no political party is serious about it. What is more important is corruption free governance, I am ready to support any party which gives good governance.Agree (14)Recommend (8)

Manisha (Mumbai) replies to shree4 hrs ago (02:15 PM)

UPA is corrupt. The corruption tainted Karnataka government is well supported by the BJP central leaders who are playind double role – one in center and another in Karnataka. Whom shall we vote for?Agree (10)Disagree (3)Recommend (4)

Mohan Menon (Ahmedabad)5 hrs ago (01:53 PM)

Even without the hint from senior leader Jaitley, BJP is known to be an opportunistic. It double standards have always been exposed at several times. At the time of assembly election results in Gujarat immediately after Godhra train carnage and post-Godhra, BJP Highcommand defined Gujarat as its laboratory of Hindutwa but now the CM himself is time and again exposing that muslims are not untouchable. Political ideologies and ideologists are gone cases. But one thing is certain that no one should forget that the platform in which they are exposing their opportunism and double standards is some one’s gift and we should not blame them just for the sake of personal mileage by anybody. It would therefore be in the interest of nation if politicians of today will refrain from this.Agree (4)Disagree (2)Recommend (3)

manish (bangalore)5 hrs ago (01:46 PM)

Now what will supporters of BJP say about this leak? Would they buy this arguement of jaitley that the word was used by diplomat and not by him?Agree (16)Disagree (12)Recommend (11)

Anxious Indian (Delhi) replies to manish4 hrs ago (02:44 PM)

What Jaitley said is 100% true and why should he take cover. His exact words were as quoted in Hindu “Hindutva will always be the talking point for BJP”, and not “Hindutva an opportunistic issue for BJP: Jaitley”. But as they say you will see what you want to see and that is what presstituted media is showing you. Would it be wise to equate cash for vote scam with Jaitley’s remarks is for an individual to decide. Jaago Bharat JaagoAgree (5)Disagree (6)Recommend (4)

manish replies to Anxious Indian3 hrs ago (03:58 PM)

Who knows whether cash for vote scam was sposered by BJP or Congress? Everybody knows that in this country, people buy and sell votes for survival. BJP, congress or any other party will not hesitate to do so. If you have a business and if it is in loss, you will try to save it by all means. If gov or somebody else gave money to BJP MPs for vote then why are they silent after the issue? Why did they not file any petition in supreme court for probing the issue? Why did we have just a committee to probe it? Why there is not any case against the persons involved?

MUMBAI: Dynamix Realty, a subsidiary of D B Realty, which has come under the probe agencies’ scanner in the 2G spectrum allocation scam, had deposited Rs 4.5 crore in the bank account of the son of Congress MLA Kripashankar Singh, facing a court case for allegedly amassing huge illegal wealth.

According to bank documents annexed to a PIL filed in Bombay High Court against the MLA, the statement of Samata Sahakari Bank account in the names of his son Narendra Mohan Singh and daughter-in-law Ankita, showed four deposits made by Dynamix Reality, totalling Rs 4.5 crore during 2008-2009.

The first deposit of Rs 50 lakh was made on August 23, 2008, in the joint bank account of Narendra and Ankita. The second entry of Rs 2 crore was made on January 1, 2009 in Narendra’s account, while the third and the fourth deposits of Rs one crore each (also in account of Narendra) were made on February 10 and 27, 2009 respectively.

A statement by the depositor, meanwhile, said, “Dynamix Realty had given a loan to Narendra Mohan Singh which has been repaid to the company on March 12, 2010″.

The Bombay High Court had on March 3 come down heavily on state anti-corruption bureau, income tax and enforcement directorate for not sharing information among themselves and asked the agencies to probe the source of transactions reflected in the bank accounts of Kripashankar Singh and his relatives.

The court noted “When the petition contains serious allegations about inaction on the part of respondents in not taking any action against Kripashankar and his kins and the specific details of bank accounts provided by petitioner, we find it difficult to accept that enquiries cannot be completed in the matter in spite of passage of nine months”.

The court said, “For instance, in para 9, petitioner has given specific details of bank accounts and mentioned that there were several deposits amounting to Rs 3.3 crores and more than Rs 30 crores were also deposited in the concerned bank accounts. The total turnover in the said account over a period of two years was about Rs 60 crores. The bank statements are not disputed by Singh and others”.

The PIL, filed by Sanjay Tiwari, a social worker, has also alleged that Kripashankar, a former state minister and currently the Mumbai pradesh Congress chief was close to former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda, allegedly involved in a multi-crore hawala scam. It also alleged that a lot of transactions took place between the two. ED, however, has said it had not found any links between Koda and Singh.

Meanwhile, reacting to the allegations Singh said his son had business transactions with (Vinod) Goenka, (chairman of DB Realty) but denied any wrongdoing.

“He (Singh’s son) recieved the amount in cheque and paid (back) in cheque. There is nothing objectionable in the transaction,” the Congress leader told PTI.

“An amount of Rs three crore was received from Dynamix Realty through two cheques and was meant for business purpose as recorded in books of accounts and my IT returns,” Singh’s son Narendra Mohan Singh said.

“As the business transactions did not materialise the amount was refunded in March last year. The refund reflected in books of accounts,” Narendra said in a statement.

DB Realty’s managing director Shahid Balwa is under the lens of investigative agencies for his alleged role in the 2G spectrum allocation scam and resigned from the board of directors of the company after his arrest.

Comments (8)

Recommended (4)

M A Choudary (Delhi)1 min ago (07:08 PM)

What is the point of these news items. When the Government is looting the country, these small amounts are no news. The other day there was a news Sadiq Batcha driver fled with Rs. 6 cr cash and no complaint was filed by by him. Congress has been looting the country and they are out to prove that BJP is more corrupt than them and if they come to power they will loot more than them. Many intellectuals agree with this point of congress but I dont agree.

Kishore Karnad Karnad (Sunnyvale CA USA)10 mins ago (06:59 PM)

Creation of the Kripashankar crores is just one more episode of India’s long running soap opera “Kaise bane crorepati”. We have a rich history of obscure, near pauper sons/daughters/ wives of ministers becoming ‘businessmen’, business magnets and then business tycoons within a matter of 3-4 years. they no more hold benami properities or do business by proxy, assured of immunity from all the laws, they indulge in all their activities openly declaring their wealth. So, miraculously, Kripashankars make 60 crores while Pawars make 600 crores and Kodas makes 4000 crores–truly ‘Midas Touch’. I feel our ministers should be invited by business schools world over to lecture and share their secrets of success with tomorrow’s managers. Even people like Buffet and Gates, who had to work for years to earn their money can learn a few tricks from our ministers who make this happen in a matter of 3-4 years. And we Indians have dozens of ‘success stories’ of the Kripashankar, Raja, Pawar, Koda kind who have become legends of the ‘money mantra’. I feel . to save news print, in future, TOI should publish the stories only about any honest minister or babu, if their investigative reports can find (any honest politician) one.Agree (2)Recommend (1)

V. Ramesh (Bangalore, India.)13 mins ago (06:56 PM)

As the investigation progresses names will come out one by one. Persons involved in this case were too many and are spread out over India and some may be living abroad. How to accommodate them in Tihar jail is a big question? And its a big challenge for the authorities to look out place to keep these scoundrels.Agree (1)

MULTI-G SCAM? The now popular 2G scam is turning out to be a multi-G scam and it apparently involves a lot more than a few individuals and multiple political parties! Is this pointing at a different direction and will the super star of the scam possibly get reprieved?Agree (2)

Angry Indian (Pune)20 mins ago (06:49 PM)

What business loan? Mumbaikars know that the Minister was raising buffaloes on unauthorised lands in Goregaon area. How he reached this level?. Villagers come to metros and indulge in all crimes and educated watch it with mouth wide open. Same story with Kalaignar TV money recd from DB and they say it is loan? Is DB an NBFC to give loans? Why not loan to me & you, only politicos? Think Indians. Egypt is showing the way.Agree (4)Recommend (2)

Piyush (Kolkata)23 mins ago (06:46 PM)

Congress, whole bunch of its leaders, all their associates are corrupt, looters. India will not be safe as long as these people enjoy power. Their only place in the earth is ‘jail’. So folks let us join together and get rid of these thieves in the next election and for ever.Agree (3)Disagree (1)Recommend (3)

tt (Chennai)30 mins ago (06:39 PM)

This is tip of ice berg! Man, this 2G spectrum kick back will fade away in time. We the people are fools.Agree (5)Recommend (3)

BANGALORE: As a result of its focused growth initiatives, Gujarat has leaped ahead of other Indian states in growth, whereas the states in South India are witnessing a slump in growth, according to a report.

Gujarat has witnessed growth at the rate of 11 per cent as compared to the all Indian growth average of nine per cent, states the report by Mckinsey & Co.

However, South India has seen a slow down in GDP growth rate, despite its overall strong position, McKinsey & Co Partner Ananth Narayan said.

Ananth Narayan was present at the conference “The Next Wave of Growth- South India”, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry, where the McKinsey report was released.

In the recent years (2005-10), the real GDP growth in Gujarat has been 11.3 per cent as against 11 per cent in Haryana, 9.6 per cent in Bihar, 8.5 per cent in Karnataka, 8.1 per cent in Kerala and 7.4 per cent each in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

Quoting the report, Narayan said Gujarat has achieved leadership in the chemicals industry, with 35 per cent share of all investments in this sector over the past five years.

He added, Gujarat had made use of its long coastline and had announced India’s first state policy on the development of new minor ports.

This has been followed with the “Jyothigram Yojana” for uniterrupted power supply and easing out business creation through a single window clearance system.

The state has also taken steps to market itself as an attractive investment destination through the “Vibrant Gujarat” summits held annually for the past eight years, he said.

He added that industry leaders attribute the slump in the South Indian region to factors such as rising land prices, significant shortage in the availability of labour, infrastructure bottlenecks including port capacity and growing urban congestion in Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad, for the slump.

While on one hand government policies — particularly on land acquisition — are still an issue, paucity of employees at all skill levels is the main concern for the industry, he said.

The constraint on labour supply and low employability due to lack of skills drives up wage levels. This is growing into a major concern in Tamil Nadu and metro areas of Bangalore and Hyderabad.

Though South India has the highest number of professional college seats, the quality of graduates from these colleges has not been at par with industry expectations, he said.

Overall, talent availability and management is a top priority for South India in the coming years, he said.

Regarding the power generation situation in South India, he said its total power demand is 26 GW base, peaking to 37 GW, while available capacity is 30 GW.

Above all, policy-making and implementation has not been conducive to growth with cumbersome and time-consuming business processes and slow pace of policy execution and project implementation, being the major constraints.

He further pointed out that there was a need for the industry to move up the value chain across sectors.

While the first wave of growth in many sectors has been at the lower end of the value chain, such as contract manufacturing, IT-offshoring, voice and data BPOs, the next growth phase requires industry to move to higher value-add segments in each of these sectors by having a strong presence in research development, product development and innovation.

Companies in South India, especially in sectors that have already attained competence as low-cost solution providers, must look to build capabilities that will take them to the next level of sophistication such as healthcare delivery to clinical and biological research, he said.

South Indian states will have to create industry clusters to transform and grow, for example Tamil Nadu with its pre-eminence in automotive/auto components could have clusters in these sectors while Karnataka could have clusters in IT/ITES. The states should undertake these effort and look beyond regional play to become global hubs through greater focus on products and innovation, he said.

The states will also have to build physical infrastructure (roads, power, ports etc) and social infrastructure through skill training, allowing more women in the workforce by creating flexibility and relaxing norms, focusing on higher education, research, and healthcare, he said.

It will have to be kept in mind, however, that development has to be sustainable and environment friendly, he said.

Severe water shortage is going to loom large in South India in the next decade and it needs to be addressed, Narayan warned.

According to the report, the state government and CII will have to follow a six-step agenda for the successful implementation of all these factors.

They will have to create a high-power steering committee comprising state’s principal secretaries, chief secretary and industry leaders to monitor the progress periodically besides setting up delivery labs to chart a road map of growth.

They should also create a control room where independent analysts from CII would track progress across initiatives, publish scorecards to be presented before the steering committee and revise plan based on feedback and outcomes.

S Gopalakrishnan, co-founder of Infosys Technologies and chairman CII, said they would place the recommendations made in the report before the government and soon set up the steering committee and control room in accordance.

Hari S Bhartia, president CII emphasised on enhancing the capacity and quality of higher education and the need to provide skill training to move towards self-employability.

Comments (71)

Recommended (46)

S Subramaniam (Chennai)4 mins ago (07:11 PM)

Narendra Modi deserves all credit for transforming Gujarat into a fast developing State amongst various States of Indian . The reasons are simple – he is un-corruptible and does not have any agenda for dynastic rule but Modi basher’s have only single agenda just to dis-lodge him. It is true that South India has highest number of professional seats but the quality of the graduates churned out from these colleges are not upto Industry expectations. Many of these professional colleges are managed by politicians many of whom do not have proven academic brilliance of world repute. Besides, the infrastructure and teaching faculty is also not upto to the standards. The Apex Court’s decision to de-rocognise some these colleges is a testimony to its in-efficient functioning which has a definite bearing on the outcome of the graduates passed from these colleges. Even in the IITs the student-faculty ratio is disgusting. The Government in their zeal have not only increased more seats in the existing IITs but also opened new IITs without positioning suitable faculty and adequate infrastructure. If this is the plight of IITs one can imagine the functioning of private engineering colleges. In India one can get a fake pilot, gets accredition from MCI by corrupt practices, acquire wealth by dis-proportionate to the known source of income, and this applies in all fields. In such a scenario how we can churn out quality graduates compatible to Industry needs?

dpatel3001 (United States)5 mins ago (07:10 PM)

As Modi once clearly stated he has a very simple philosophy towards attracting business in the state – “Red carpet not red tape”. Nothing did more to discourage investments into Gujarat and rest of India in the past few decades than the corruption and bureaucracy that was present since independence. Today there are many that are upset with Modi because he has set a precedent of inviting investments into the country without the usual bribes necessary to speed up the paperwork.

nk.srikanth.nk (blore)10 mins ago (07:05 PM)

Investments in infrastructure projects and execution of these projects have made one of the many important differences over the past decade. Also the state is very active in inviting the businesses and provide them with a friendly business environment. Though the South Indian states have tried to attract investments, unstable governments and policies have made them fall behind.Agree (1)

swamivas (Hong Kong)16 mins ago (06:59 PM)

It is only natural for the enterprising people of Gujarat to excel as they have been for ages and so they did it again under the enterprising leadership of CM Narendra Modi! Congratulations!Agree (3)Disagree (2)Recommend (3)

Its really true and now proven congress and its UPA alliance is making fool to people of India. Gujarat is Gujrat in leadership of Mr Modi ,we Indian should now understan d the policies of Mr Manmohan Singh and company.Agree (7)Disagree (2)Recommend (4)

Hemant (Dubai)45 mins ago (06:30 PM)

Now think if Narendra Modi will be our pm then wat he can do for india.Agree (8)Disagree (1)Recommend (4)

bijoy (Bangalore)50 mins ago (06:25 PM)

Please don’t praise Modi before reading fully. I am agreeing in South average salary of labors are more compared to Gujarat. including construction wrokers etc. That is why now not so much growth as Mac mentioned. If so Gujarat has more industry then waht is the wage of the labors. IS it less than 200 rs per day. In Gujarat only 10% Business man utilizing 90% giving less wage and starting more industry. Becuase of that only this growth. Otherwise 90% people are poor onlyAgree (4)Disagree (8)Recommend (1)

sunil (delhi) replies to bijoy37 mins ago (06:38 PM)

You are wrong in analysis.. Gujarat GDP still smaller as compare to many big states like TN, Maharastra, AP and including UP. These growth figure 9, 11% are from previous year. It is like comparing US or China growth with India. CHina grow 1.5trillion every year (9-10% growth) as compare to India 200billion a year yet growth is 8-9%. I didn’t like the media sensational of news divide among state and people for their rating. Why don’t they just public previous year GDP and this year GDP with % of growth. Let the people make own decision. Why can’t they be just unbiased? We need just stats not made up story. Can anyone tell what is actual GDP of gujarat or delhi from this news? Absolutely rubbish newsAgree (6)Disagree (6)Recommend (3)

darpan (Hydrabad) replies to sunil26 mins ago (06:49 PM)

I disagree here.. a healthy competition between states are required. A positive competitive environment brings overall motive in individuals mind that they have to contribute more to bring their state at par. I totally in agreement of spreading such news. Such thing only will agitate a little divert the mentality from ‘shear politics’ to ‘politics by results’.Agree (2)Disagree (1)Recommend (2)

Seth Gujju Bhai (Surat)51 mins ago (06:24 PM)

Thanks Ghattis to have driven business out of Bombay. Soon you will have no more “Bhandi” to “Ghasav”.Agree (4)Disagree (5)

You think you have made a brilliant comment right? Idiot. Grow up and don’t spoil Gujrat’s name.Agree (2)Recommend (1)

bprao (Hyderabad)51 mins ago (06:24 PM)

Why every time soem one heaps praise on Gujarat people either credit Modi or jsut start Modi baiting. Gujarat is becasue of its proactive and enterprising people.Modi however shall be given due credit for his fecilitation of this growth.Agree (5)Disagree (1)Recommend (3)

Prakash (Bengaluru) replies to bprao24 mins ago (06:51 PM)

This fecilitation itself is not happening in other states and in centre. Modi practices same kind of working as CEOs of private companies work. His exact way of working I read in “new york times” news paper recently. He gives time to complete work to his authorities in terms of hours not in terms of months or years. Can you believe villages of Gujarat are getting 24 hours electricity which you can’t even imagine in your Hyderabad nor I here in Bengaluru.Agree (1)Disagree (1)

Madrasee (Chennai)55 mins ago (06:20 PM)

One more article and one more opportunity for Modi brigade. I am sure no one is bothered to read the article which clearly analyzing the reasons. And for all those taking this to Modi’s credit, here is something to ponder. Gujarat was contributing 18% of GDP in 1994-95.Agree (4)Disagree (4)Recommend (2)

Prakash (Bengaluru) replies to Madrasee12 mins ago (07:03 PM)

I think you are person who cast the vote in elections by taking rice and chilli powder from politicians in tamil nadu. When foreign media is praising Gujarat revolution what is wrong with you manDisagree (1)

h.kailash (India) replies to Madrasee41 mins ago (06:34 PM)

Jealous muzzie a****leAgree (2)Disagree (1)

Madrasee replies to h.kailash36 mins ago (06:39 PM)

You have nothing else to substance from your brain. By the way, I have both.Agree (2)Disagree (3)Recommend (2)

h.kailash replies to Madrasee22 mins ago (06:53 PM)

Lol..i know you are a muzzie scum.Now tell me what is your opinion about kasmiris who ethnically cleansed my brothers and sistersAgree (1)Disagree (1)Recommend (1)

Ashok (Mumbai)55 mins ago (06:20 PM)

Where are the nay sayers when you need them. Some of the people who were commenting on the negative things about Gujarat would like to read this. And since when did TOI started reporting good things about Gujarat??Agree (5)Recommend (2)

Kam (London)55 mins ago (06:20 PM)

Hey! I accept the Gujarat growth, but address the skills like more valuable international standards for other South Indian states. I see from UK, that we Indians much higher levels on Maths, Science, which is made mandatory for all school students. That is very great added advantage for the evaluating any perspective skills.

If Modi wants to be Transparent on MOU’s it’s a different story, but I-T targets Gujarat only is a DISCRIMINATION. And India should not forget that UPA appeals World Industrialists to invest in India. This MOU’s Investments is not a Black Money investments of Mafia Syndicate like HasanAli – Tapuria, Dawood’s Aide, Corrupt Politicians, Bureaucrats etc….Why Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai are not targeted from where Anti-National deals are exposed like 2g, S-Band etc…Agree (4)Recommend (1)

Piyush (Kolkata)1 hr ago (06:10 PM)

Narendra Modi ji should be the next PM of India. Let us all join hands kick out inept corrupt congress in the next election and move fast to make India grow faster for the betterment of all Indians.Agree (9)Disagree (1)Recommend (8)

Prakash (Bengaluru)1 hr ago (06:10 PM)

Ananth Narayan in his own words “Though South India has the highest number of professional college seats, the quality of graduates from these colleges has not been at par with industry expectations”. This is because our lecturers of engineering colleges are those people to whom industry has rejected once upon a time. Universities of America UK and Japan are the solution providing centres to their country’s problems. But our universities are problem creating centres to the nation. Professors of Tokyo university, Texas university or Princeton university are carrying out research either on renewable energy, farming productivity, earthquake warning system or nano technology. But we cannot expect the same from our Professors, they know only producing mass scale unemployable graduates who will be the burden on country.Agree (9)Disagree (2)Recommend (7)

sd (gujarat)1 hr ago (06:10 PM)

common modi………india deserve u on top postAgree (10)Disagree (2)Recommend (6)

Brinston (Muscat, )1 hr ago (06:09 PM)

Congrulations to Mr. Modi.Agree (9)Disagree (1)Recommend (4)

Ananta (Odisha)1 hr ago (06:08 PM)

Modiji Should be our next PM. The nation will vote for U.Agree (6)Disagree (2)Recommend (4)

Anish (God’s own country)1 hr ago (06:08 PM)

Dear Guys .. After 5 years its not banglore or chennai or Hyderabad .. Its only Kochi- The Queen of Arabian see will be the NO 1 Metro in South india nad Kerala Will Overtake Gujarath in GDP… Wait … we are on the wayDisagree (7)

h.kailash (India) replies to Anish21 mins ago (06:54 PM)

It is becoming more of a saudi arabia because of inbreeding of muzzie scums rather than queen of arabian seaAgree (1)

Being in Bangalore since the many years and visitor of Chennai and Hyderabad, I can clearly see that there is no way that these cities can take more burden. The infrastructure is pathetic, corruption from top to bottom and zero accountability from public servants. There seems to be no foresight or planning from the state governments to spread the development across other parts of the states. They are content having one city filled like slums. Whatever development takes place is done in a haphazard and tardy manner. As an example in Bangalore the flyovers being built on the outer ring roads are really small ones, they should not take more than two or three months to build but they have been under construction for more nearly one year. The entire stretch is now clogged with traffic. Going inside the city, not even a single road can be found in good condition, there are only potholes and skyscraper sized speed breakers. The traffic barely moves at 20-30 km/h so why do we need so many speed breakers is just anybody’s guess. These types of gimmicks clearly indicates that a huge amount of tax money is being cornered by builder-politician-bureaucrat nexus. It is just the onset of summers and already there are power cuts and water shortages in every area. Why doesn’t the government enforce rain water harvesting on all the new buildings being built. I am sure that not even a single building in Bangalore cares about the environmental norms and rain water harvesting.Agree (10)Disagree (3)Recommend (5)

sid (Hyderabad) replies to Amit8 mins ago (07:07 PM)

Can you tell us about your home state? Probably, they don’t even have proper road, or jobs or water or electricity. Why don’t make your own state better place to live?

nagesh pai (manipal) replies to Amit32 mins ago (06:43 PM)

don’t whinge, GO BACK WHERE YOU COME FROM!! BECAUSE OF AH0le like you our beautiful city become unlivable.. GO BACK GOO. Bloody ah0le expect everything spoon feeded.Agree (2)

srinivas (chennai) replies to Amit47 mins ago (06:28 PM)

can you do us a favor? go back where you come from and improve your filthy rotten state. this way you will avoid burden and as well as your negative stateAgree (3)Disagree (2)

Amit replies to srinivas20 mins ago (06:55 PM)

Srinivas, can you do us a favour, if you are unable to logically argue and put forth your views please stick to watching cartoon network. Bigoted people like you are the cause for this nation’s ill. Instead of taking the corrupt politicians and bureaucrats to task, you immediately jump to petty state, caste and language based politics. I see people like you all the times in my office. You guys are always huddled together with people of your own state, play petty politics and fight over useless issues while the whole state is going to dog. People like you have nothing to add to the discussion and make it a matter of personal and linguistic pride. And finally it is spelled as “favour” not “favor”, I hope you have managed to pass your HighSchool.Agree (1)Disagree (1)Recommend (1)

free_verse (delhi) replies to Amit56 mins ago (06:19 PM)

Agree. I lived in Bangalore for a few years and found that the city was not originally meant to be an IT hub. It was a pensioner’s paradise. The roads and public places were all created with this aim in mind. Now it is under pressure from the techies and companies that have set base there and it is crumbling under their pressure. I observed that in fact there is no SCOPE for expanding the roads in Bangalore because of the way they are built. The houses come right upto the road. The flyovers sprouting up haphazardly do not help in any way other than reduce the aesthetic value of the city. The govts. should ensure that other cities in the state develop to ease the pressure from Bangalore. just because Bangalore was the original IT hub does not mean that other cities cannot be developed in the same manner.Agree (3)Disagree (2)Recommend (1)

Om (Oman) replies to Amit56 mins ago (06:19 PM)

Amit Bangalore is much much better than Chennai. Pathatic roads, full of garbage, dust & noise pollusion and absolutely no regard for traffic signals, very unplanned flyovers and very very high auto charges etc.. The list is endless. Better be happy abt BangaloreAgree (2)Disagree (1)Recommend (2)

Amit replies to Om9 mins ago (07:06 PM)

Om, will you stop this non-sense. This is not about Karnataka vs Tamilnadu. It is about a common issue that plagues these states and the entire nation. I am not bashing anyone for any petty reasons. If you read my comment it’s about the lack of infrastructure in all the cities and this could be applied to all the states in India. The issue is how can we solve this problem before this problem kills us all. If we do not solve this problem, soon many of the companies may decide to leave India and go to other countries. This has already happened in case of Call Centers where now all the jobs are shifting to Philippines. Same can happen to software also. But looking at these types of comments I cannot see how India can be the next super power. We are still fighting with each other just as we were doing 400 years back.

Sam (Kolkata)1 hr ago (05:56 PM)

Where is Bengal. I believe commu don’t believe in growth. May be negativeAgree (9)Disagree (2)Recommend (7)

Rajkumar (Kolkatta) replies to Sam57 mins ago (06:18 PM)

Are you talking about West Bengal? After many years of negative growth, government has decided to shift it to Africa near Somalia. There all the empty headed psuedo-intellectual Bengalis can continue eating pheesh along with each other’s head.Agree (3)Recommend (2)

Rupesh Joshi (Delhi)1 hr ago (05:56 PM)

It is just because of Narendra Modi, i want Modi Ji our next P.M.Agree (12)Disagree (3)Recommend (9)

Amit (Mumbai)1 hr ago (05:55 PM)

Modi should be given credit for this. Don’t know when he will lead the nation, waiting for that day….Agree (9)Disagree (2)Recommend (6)

Mayur (Nagpur)1 hr ago (05:54 PM)

I would liike to see Mr. Modi as Prime Minister of India.Agree (13)Disagree (1)Recommend (9)

ram (USA) replies to Mayur1 hr ago (06:01 PM)

Looks like he has enough support even if he starts a new party all together. I would love to vote for him.Agree (9)Disagree (2)Recommend (4)

Anthony (Mumbai)1 hr ago (05:54 PM)

Gujarat has done everything right. Its fundamentals socially economically and politically very sound. If rest of India operated that way (specially maharashtra) India would be unbeatable. Take a look at Gujarath’s uniterrupted power supply and operational easing out of business creation through a single window clearance system are very attarctive to investors worldwide.Agree (6)Recommend (3)

It is sad to know that Maharashtra, Bengal and Jharkhand do not figure in the list. whereas Bihar has made the cut. I attribute this to excellent governance in Gujarat and Bihar where the Governments are committed to fulfill the longstanding aspirations of their people. I hope the rest of the goons ruling the other States learn from the development model of these two States.Agree (8)Recommend (5)

Jai Haryana… :D I hope all other states also pull up their trousers and start working for the overall growth of the nation. Punjab, which was once seen as an example of growth is nowhere in the picture. This is what happens when a significant amount of your population just wants to reap the benefit of their forefathers hard work. Hail Narendra Modi…. JAI HINDAgree (8)Disagree (2)Recommend (5)

Hunter (Haridwar)1 hr ago (05:50 PM)

At last TOI reports some thing good about Mr.Modi and Gujarat. What ever be the case the truth cannot be hidden. Did TOI report the news when Gujarat CM won the award from UN for excellence is Public Adminstration? How many news papers in India reported that?Agree (8)Recommend (8)

deval (Pune)1 hr ago (05:50 PM)

This time it is McKinsey’s report…!!! Congratulations all the way..!!!Agree (6)Recommend (4)

Tri (Hyd)1 hr ago (05:48 PM)

2 cheers to modi. His decisions are bold, not like cat on wall, which the congress does.Agree (8)Disagree (1)Recommend (5)

mad (UK)1 hr ago (05:48 PM)

KARNATAKA LAGGING BEHIND =, all thanks to Mr. Yedi the most corrpt and idotic CM, Andhra due to strike riots for Telangana state which is ridiculous. I don’t think its the lack skilled workers, its the lack of a honest and good leadership. I think Yedi should give up before the state collapses.Agree (3)Disagree (6)Recommend (2)

Pappu (India)1 hr ago (05:43 PM)

Congies, foulmouthed and dirty people party…They have robbed us, looted this nation – Providing relief and justice to Bhopal Gas Victims, encouraged caste based politics and thus divided the society (caste politics), majority-minority division to have muslim vote bank, encouraged robbers and looters to accumulate black money in swiss banks since our independence, created scam raj (2g, CWG, Adarsh, Coffingate, s-band scams), created a system where criminals can fight elections and come to the power to loot us, lawless nesss and increased crime against women (rape, molestation etc – the high profile criminals involved remain scotfree). Jai ho Sardarji, Jai ho Sardar ki Italian ma’am. Guys, this time in election we need to ensure that we are influencing atleast 20 voters to ensure that they are not voting for this govt. And this we need to do for another 5 elections to come to ensure that this govt never comes to power again.Agree (12)Disagree (5)Recommend (9)

Anthony (Mumbai) replies to Pappu1 hr ago (05:59 PM)

Please know the History of India before you open yr mouth. The division of caste and minority aspects were there for thousands of years. Only modern Human Rights demands by the world pushed Indian govts to provide protection under the governance. So please try n educate yourself of the socio-economic realities of minorities and OBC. Western govts give priority to minorities where democracy truly means serving minorities interests first and see how successful they are. Learn from them.Agree (2)Disagree (6)Recommend (2)

bijoy (bangaolre) replies to Anthony56 mins ago (06:19 PM)

Which Western government you are talking about. In America Christians have special right. I think western govt give priorities which are minorites in India and not in their country. Ha Ha Ha. Only In India such laws existing in the name of minoritiesAgree (4)Disagree (2)Recommend (3)

John (USA) replies to Anthony1 hr ago (06:14 PM)

Yes. Ban burkha as France has done and other european countries are trying to do.Agree (3)Disagree (1)Recommend (2)

SATYAWADI (Delhi)1 hr ago (05:42 PM)

It is time for Modi-baiters to take a lesson from this findings. When will they learn to concentrate more on good results and less on petty politics that pull India down financially and also in the eyes of the wholle world?Agree (6)Disagree (2)Recommend (6)

Sus (Oman)1 hr ago (05:42 PM)

Does it mean that UP, Odisha, Rajasthan and far east is better than south India? WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!Agree (2)Disagree (4)Recommend (2)

Dipak (Dipak) replies to Sus53 mins ago (06:22 PM)

It is a growth of the year 2010. It is like I just woke up and you were working all day and night so far. So I have more to do or I would say, there are lots of activities to be done to catch you. I am still far behind you.

Indian (Malaysia)1 hr ago (05:41 PM)

Modi ki jai. BJP jaiho….But what about Yadiurappa doing in Karnataka? Is he sleeping? Even after Bangalore is called silicon city, heart of Indian IT sector………he is not done anything. No growth. He is more interested in making property for himself and his relatives……..very bad.Yadiurappa please wake-up appa…..we want you be in action like Modi. At least see him and learn something.Otherwise it is sure, next elections Baba Ramdev candidates going to kick you out.He is waiting for fellows like you to make mistakes…..Baba Ramdev ki jai.Agree (8)Disagree (7)Recommend (5)

Indian (Bangalore) replies to Indian1 hr ago (05:54 PM)

There has been development in Karnataka.. especially in North Karnataka.. JDS hadn’t been in there.. there would have been more developmentAgree (2)Disagree (2)Recommend (1)

Anthony (Mumbai) replies to Indian1 hr ago (05:54 PM)

IT is in a slump worldwide Shortage of good employable trained labour is bringing the GDP of southern states down. All socio-economic factors are not favourable to South at this time. Please understand the economic environment (if you know how?) before you commentAgree (2)Disagree (2)

Caesar (Bangalore, India)1 hr ago (05:37 PM)

Hail NaMo!!Agree (10)Disagree (2)Recommend (9)

T Patel (New Jersey)1 hr ago (05:36 PM)

Another stomachache and heartache for Sonia and her CongressAgree (16)Disagree (3)Recommend (12)

I Love my India (India) replies to T Patel1 hr ago (05:57 PM)

Congress, MMS and Fake Gandhis doesn’t stand against Modi as far as development is concerned, they can only stand when it comes to apeasement. But some Indians are happy only with apeasement.Agree (9)Disagree (1)Recommend (5)

Vani S (Shimoga)1 hr ago (05:33 PM)

Chidu-man was taken to task by Mulayam and his bhaiyyas for stating the same thing.Agree (10)Disagree (1)Recommend (5)

A person is eligible to fly a commercial aircraft only when he or she secures a CPL, which is given out after a person completes 200 hours of flying during the training.

However, the 14 pilots whose licenses have been revoked had allegedly not flown the mandatory hours and are alleged to have got fake certificates from a Rajasthan flying training institute.

DGCA chief EK Bharat Bhushan had recently said that the CPLs of around 10,000 pilots was under the scanner, besides about 4,000 holders of Airlines Pilots Training License (ATPLs).

He had also said that DGCA would conduct third-party audit of all the 40 flying schools in the country in the wake of cases of forgery behind securing of licences coming to light.

Describing as serious the issue of some pilots getting licenses on the basis of forged marksheets or through illegal means with the help of flying schools, Government has vowed not to show any leniency.

“There are about 40 flying schools. Now there is an audit of these schools… Blanket order has been given to go ahead into the complaints. There is no leniency to anybody,” civil aviation minister Vayalar Ravi had said.

“This is a big fraud playing with human lives. There will be no leniency to anybody. We will go very strongly by abiding with the laws. Every angle would be looked into. The issue is very serious,” he had said.

The minister said the Director General of Civil Aviation(DGCA) had discussed the issue with him “more than once” and steps are being taken to address the issue.

Bharat Bhushan, the director general in DGCA, said essentially there are two types of frauds in regard to fake pilot licenses.

One type of fraud related to not passing the Commercial Pilot License(CPL) exam and producing false marksheet to procure the flying license while the other related to flying schools crediting flying hours in certificates which has actually not been undertaken by the persons concerned, he said.

Comments (49)

Recommended (2)

skjay (banglore)13 mins ago (07:02 PM)

dear editor, its very typical of indian establishment to ask the defaulters to investigate themselves ending up in a zero conviction rate in so many frauds,CPLs,ATPLs are issued by DGCA, if certificates of flying hours are fake then its the fault of flying clubs, but the marks sheet are creation of someone from DGCA, it is rumored that you can clear a paper by paying 5000 to 10000 rs, we need to seal the responsible branches in DGCA and carry out a third party investigation, other its going to be same old story of incredible india,where no one gets the blame and life moves on!!!!Agree (1)Recommend (1)

Maruvur VembuIyer Rangaraajan Rangaraajan (Delhi)2 hrs ago (05:00 PM)

The persons who come for training also should be honest. Like, we have to follow traffic rules sincerely, whether there is policeman around or not. If the society succumbs to lure of money what anybody can do about its consequences? The officials connected in this scam should be severely punished.Other lucrative professions also should have stringent test system before the professionals are unleashed on innocent public.Agree (2)Disagree (1)

Ahmad (New Delhi)2 hrs ago (04:52 PM)

Corruption has become a social vehicle which has been accepted in our lives. Sizeable percentage our us are corrupt and its there in the blood now. Its not that one guy is more corrupt than the other……its a sea of corrupt people who are fighting to be on the top. If you see around yourself, the parity or what someone earns and what they have as assets, its very clear of who is doing it and who is not. Anybody associated with the government, irrespective which government, has got a huge tilt of being corrupt. Now, these people are used by other people as their means to do something else which is again corrupt. Its a nexus…..and investigations cant solve it due to its sheer size. The only thing which can take care is education, imbibing values and teaching whats good and whats notAgree (2)Disagree (1)Recommend (1)

sadhu vedant muni (bhopal)2 hrs ago (04:47 PM)

privatizations are more harmful. these institutions have taken grants or permissions on the basis of LAA AND ORDER. in our country we are facing every day corruptions and bribery case . how direly they have taken fake certificates and all false pilots are playing the lives of innocents and own self also , if they found guilty must be punished and ultimate sentences R I. providers should be hanged till death. those who have issued the permissions and the inspections and recommended committee should be penalized.Agree (1)Disagree (1)Recommend (1)

passenger (calcutta)2 hrs ago (04:39 PM)

DGCA SHOULD BE ABOLISHED——–PILOT LICENSE SHOULD BE ISSUED BY AIR FORCE—why continue with a national shame or a national NUISANCE?Agree (2)Disagree (1)

Yes. Air Force is the best body to test and issue flying license to all pilots. They should conduct the theory examination also. The problem is that the pilots body think that they are superior to Air Force while it is just the other way. The AF pilots are much more competent as they have to cope up with so many unexpected happenings like enemy fire and all.Disagree (1)

ABCD (calcutta)2 hrs ago (04:37 PM)

IF CABINET MINISTER CAN BE ARRESTED[MR A RAJA] WHY DGCA CANNOT BE ARRESTED FOR FAKE PILOT SCAM?——–moreover most of the engineers of indian airlines are not engineers of IIT or any recognised engineering colleges—ENGINEERS ARE HAVING LICENSE GIVEN BY DGCA –FOR PAST 25 YEARS ENGINEERS OF INDIAN AIRLINES GET qualification pay in their salary although they are not recognised engineers from IIT OR ANY ENGINEERING COLLEGE—DGCA IS ISSUING LICENSE FOR PILOTS AND ALSO ENGINEERS—IS DGCA A UNIVERSITY? HOW THEY ARE ISSUING CERIFICATES ?Disagree (2)

avb (delhi)2 hrs ago (04:23 PM)

Just because no politician is involved, as of yet, the babus are showing all ‘seriousness’. Once the name of a politician crops up they will become jelly beans.

Munnabhai MBA (Mumbai)3 hrs ago (03:40 PM)

Lakhs of lives were and maybe are in still danger everyday that the holders of these false certificates are still around. It is nothing short of a dangerous criminal act. The DGCA should proceed against them on that basis!Agree (1)Recommend (1)

avb (delhi) replies to Munnabhai MBA2 hrs ago (04:26 PM)

Just wait and see till the name of a big politician crops up in the scam

chittaranjan (doha)3 hrs ago (03:22 PM)

The DGCA should follow the example of DG Shipping which introduced the INDoS system for seafarers in 2001. You can check online the genuineness of any Indian seafarer’s documents

Daljeet Singh (NEW Delhi )3 hrs ago (03:16 PM)

How many Delhi police officer has taken govt accommodation on fake medical bill how many Delhi police official has submitted fake medical bill in the ministry of housing to get the govt staff accommodation how a sub inspector can get ACP flats how sub inspector can make extra room in govt staff quarter can check any time the flats number is 212 or 216 in the police coney Haus khas New Delhi 110017Agree (1)

avb (delhi) replies to Daljeet Singh2 hrs ago (04:25 PM)

is some one listening?

Raj (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)4 hrs ago (03:02 PM)

Safety must be the first priority for public confidence to return. The next level must be the support services. Excellent work by the minister and the Director general.

Salil (London)4 hrs ago (02:59 PM)

All the people arrested and charged in connection withr fake pilots’ licences should be tried for “attempt to mass murder” as all passengers’ lives were at total risk when they flew with such pilots. And I would encourage all passengers to sue the airlines companies under similar charges so they get compensated for this totally callous failure to vet the credentials of these “fake” pilots.Agree (2)Disagree (1)

mohinder (england)4 hrs ago (02:40 PM)

Good to find the guilty. Corrupt officials & agents who are playing with innocent lives (potential mass murderers) are going to get away with fines paid by black money or bribing the investigating officers & sharing the loot with their superiors. Guilty need to be incarcerated!!Agree (1)

Chinni (mumbai)4 hrs ago (02:31 PM)

I have realised that flying commercial aircraft is no big deal. How many pilots with fake marksheets, cooked up flying hours, back door entries have gone on to become airline pilots and have retired successfully we don’t know. If these guys have managed to fly the aircraft despite not having the requisite qualifications, I think we need to lower the qualifications. Imagine mr. Vyalar Ravi taking strict action. A big crook himself, its a laugh that he will do anything worthwhile.Agree (1)Recommend (1)

Sai (Pune)4 hrs ago (02:20 PM)

What about corruption when they build bridges and buildings. Is it not about playing with people’s lives as well?Agree (1)

N Krishnamoorthy (Thanjavur)5 hrs ago (01:56 PM)

What about the perpetrators and the Babus who took ‘gifts’ in the scam? Why are they going scott free? Mr Vayalar Ravi what steps have you taken as Minister for Civil Aviation?

Jaison (India)5 hrs ago (01:52 PM)

these were the people who were flying Air India for such a long time…..and NO WONDER…accidents, delay in flights, cancellation of flights, irresponsible, lazy and are not even giving any value for the life of the people whom they are responsible of, while handling a flight. These all happens due to the total mis management….and after all “WHO CARES” only interested in money as it is flowing in without any hindrance. You can see many start up airlines are gaining from this….Its a SHAME….

Mathihalli G Rao (Pune)5 hrs ago (01:48 PM)

Similar way, the RTOs in Inida have to chekc the driving licneses issued to two, three, 4 whllers and trukc drivers…. This shold create a fear in the road traffic….Accidents can be avoided to some extent.

zakki (in)5 hrs ago (01:48 PM)

Engineer License (AME) also presently India we have substandard Maintenance Engineers also getting papers cleared by paying Huge money as AME is also in Demand. AME license is also issued by DGCA.Agree (1)

Anthony (Mumbai)5 hrs ago (01:30 PM)

This is a shame disgrace and a real sham too. How embarrassing for India. How can these men and women could risk so many lives just for a glorious job and money. This shows their family upbringing, parental/adult role model/examples. lack of education in self worth, with all the value in honesty.integrity, honor for culture tradition & religion of these people to be so low that even pornographic actors seem honorable. Who knows this may be just the tip of the iceberg in India.Who knows how many such other professions like doctors, engineers and others who have the licence to operate in areas that could jeopordise public health safety and life are in positions and have not been scrutinized or have falsified their credentials. Welcome to worldclass India Yes Incredible India

hortense vaughan (AUSTRALIA)5 hrs ago (01:24 PM)

Rub out all the cheats, crooks ,corrupters ,and operators of these scams and thereby make flying safer for the Indian public and lessen the angst of the Indian air passengers. Just do it!

N Krishnamoorthy (Thanjavur)5 hrs ago (01:20 PM)

Mr. Praful I do hope you had done enough damage. All the scams had started and took shape when you were the Civil Aviation Minister. CBI investigation should be ordered as well as the Government should come out with White Paper as these have direct bearing on the lives of the innocent passengers.

Dinesh (USA)5 hrs ago (01:16 PM)

How much CUTS does the Aviation Ministry share with DGCA Loot Collection from Fake Pilot License and Dubious Schools?

Nastynes (Mumbai)6 hrs ago (01:13 PM)

This is stupid. Forging hours has been going on for at least 20 years in this country and now they wake up? All the flying schools do it. Its a fact! Even in check rides the student never flies, multi or instrument!

Padam Singh (Salisbury, UK)6 hrs ago (01:02 PM)

Flying schools giving fake certificates are playing with committing murder. They should be hanged. There will definitely be people with fake certificates who have joined Air Control. The media should highlight this as here we have government officials playing with lives and it is not like dealing with corrupt cops

Razaul Hassan (New Delhi)6 hrs ago (12:59 PM)

It’s not safe to travel by air in India now, India can have 9/11 even without any terrorist attack. Is our govt doing anything to stop these fake pilots?

SP (N. Delhi)6 hrs ago (12:56 PM)

What wrong the fake pilots have done, compared to fake Railway Minister who operates Railways by proxy from Kolkata and PM who is sleeping on job. No wonder corruption has achieved growth of more than 100% in India.

k.madhukar (Bangalore)6 hrs ago (12:31 PM)

Auditing Flying schools ? Good idea. But do we have such Auditors who can’t be bought by these Schools ?

Netra (Tahiti)7 hrs ago (12:01 PM)

…and I sure would like to be assured that the assets flaunted by the stewardess are not fake…. You never know…. Indian newspapers are full of ads to get you in shape….Agree (4)

veejay_kay (Mumbai) replies to Netra5 hrs ago (01:40 PM)

:-)

rag (pune) replies to Netra5 hrs ago (01:23 PM)

yes, they wear rubber pads at both the places- rear and front bumpers. hahaha.

Pankaj (Mumbai) replies to Netra6 hrs ago (12:59 PM)

I thing Mr P Patel would the best person to response with his “wide exp” on all subject of Airlines.

Venkatraman (Oslo)7 hrs ago (11:55 AM)

As the article says there are 2 scams. Fake certificates for theory exams (DGCA officials could be involved the pilots / touts who are faking them). The second is the number of flying hours. If a person is to fly 200 hours before getting the CPL, they fly for an actual of 100 paying full fees and the rest of it (100 hours) they dont fly but pay only lets say 25%. The school got 25% for doing nothing, the student saved 75%. The second part of the scam is directed related to our flying school officials (some government and several that I know of private). Once again the private sector is as much corrupt as the government.Agree (2)

You are right, Venkat, the country as a whle is corrupt. But here playing with passengers lives is like committing murder. I don’t blame Jetair for recruiting foreign pilots in preference of Indian pilots. I don’t say corruptio does not exist in the west, but there is accountability and the punishment huge. If your cheque bounces once in the UK, your crediti rating goes down and every financial institution gets to know about it

RM (Baltimore)7 hrs ago (11:50 AM)

The stock market, the Bofors, the fodder, the railway recruitment, the commonwealth, adarsh, the 2G, the land grabbing and finally the pilot scam. For these 9 huge scams not even one polititian has been properly castigated. Either a scrape goat is found, or the evidence is destroyed or things just linger in courts while the culprits enjoy life. Wow! we the people are really morons! How else could this happen right under our nose?

Pankaj (Mumbai)7 hrs ago (11:34 AM)

The DGCA official who is arrested must be a fraud. He may not be a DGCA official…lol This is India anything can happen

Gaurav (Bangalore)7 hrs ago (11:33 AM)

Another proof that human life has no value in india. These scams are coming to notice only after Mr. Praful Patel left Civil Aviation Ministry, wonder if he had any role in all those flourishing flying schools which provide fake pilot licenses.

V P MENION (Sultanate of Oman)7 hrs ago (11:31 AM)

In India each and everything is Fake, including,the President,PM, even Gandhi.

Simpsons (Bangalore)7 hrs ago (11:28 AM)

This is the rot in the Indian Government today. Needless to say it starts with the Politicians and ends with the bureaucracy. In between these two are the businessmen. Fake Pilot Licences is only one aspect of this rot. The Indian moral fabric has broken down. As long as the nexus between Politicians, bureaucrats and business is not broken down India will continue to slide down. We certainly resemble a Banana Republic with corruptions and scams being the main course of the day.

Hemand (Mumbai)8 hrs ago (11:10 AM)

DGCA Industrialist Politicians cartel has put the lives of the passenger at risk .Agree (3)Recommend (1)

Indiafirst (Kolkata)8 hrs ago (10:44 AM)

The politicians in question,must be inquiring the Pilots name and academy every time they take a commercial flight. Commoners like us have no such priviledge. The airlines must disclose the pilots credentials at the time of booking a seat. It should come under Right for Information act. In a country where Commercial Pilots licenses are sold,under the nose of DGCA and involvement of Politicians with flying academy is proved,God only can save the passengers.Agree (6)Recommend (4)

S.KAUSHIK (Pune)8 hrs ago (10:38 AM)

How come no one in the Government didn’t know of the corruption in DGCA and fake pilot licences till now ? The present measures at investigations are nothing but smokescreen. Let every licence of a pilot and his profile be put on the website so that anyone having anything adverse to say can warn the DGCA. There will be another big story scam soon, and all this will be forgotten.Agree (4)Recommend (2)

k.madhukar (Bangalore) replies to S.KAUSHIK6 hrs ago (12:32 PM)

With a fake Prime Minister, what do you expect ?

Sudharshan (Chennai) replies to S.KAUSHIK7 hrs ago (11:58 AM)

The names of pilots passing DGCA exams are on their website..!

sat (UK)8 hrs ago (10:33 AM)

If you wish for me to believe this is something new to inform me, sorry buddy no. Media never picked up courage to help sort out these anti social confusions caused by millions of tyrants. It is sahme these aggressive fools end up stealing on jobs of people who rightfully deserve it. It is biggets shle to get a cleaners job we have to bribe the supervisor in nORTH AMERICA. I see no soultion to this petty theft, if someone has them come forward and exchange ideas how to empower us and learn fast track art how to cheat the devil.

N Krishnamoorthy (Thanjavur)8 hrs ago (10:33 AM)

Why the senior person who had influenced his daughter to get a bogus license and also employment at the time when 200 odd pilots were jobless, is still roaming scott free? Are they afraid of touching him because of his possible connection with the powers that be? Who else in DGCA and the Ministry of civil Aviation involved? Why not CBI enquiry and White Paper on this?Offensiv

Stating that the attack was stage managed, social activist Swami Agnivesh said the police wanted to obstruct any investigation into its excesses.RAIPUR: Social activist Swami Agnivesh phoned Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh, briefed him on his travel plans, and then embarked on a trip to the three villages allegedly burnt by the police in Dantewada.

But he still could not get there. Along with his co-travellers, two teachers of ‘Art of Living’, he was physically obstructed and abused by a crowd on Saturday morning at Dornapal town, roughly 50 kilometres short of the villages.

“He was pulled out his car, his turban dislodged, eggs were hurled at him,” said an eyewitness.

A correspondent of The Indian Express, Joseph John, brought out his camera to take pictures. His camera was snatched. His mobile and laptop were also taken away (the belongings were returned later).

Eyewitnesses said special police officers in civilian clothes were present in the crowd, which also included women.

“The crowd shouted slogans ‘Pagadi waale waapis jao’. (Go back, the man with the turban). They said why don’t those who talk of human rights visit the area when people and policemen die in Maoist violence?,” recounted a journalist. “Agnivesh tried to explain to them that he has always condemned Naxal violence, but they did not allow him to speak”.

“This was a stage managed attack,” said Agnivesh. He said it was apparent the police wanted to obstruct any investigation into its excesses and had propped up the demonstration.

On March 23, two newspapers, The Hindu and Patrika, published images of homes reduced to ashes in three villages, Tadmetla, Morepalli, Teemapuram. According to testimonies of villagers, special police officers burnt down nearly 300 homes, sexually assaulted three women and killed five men between March 11 and 16, coinciding with a week long security operation against the Maoists, which left three policemen dead.

Ever since reports of the rampage surfaced, the police have blocked access to the villages. On March 22, this correspondent was turned away at Chintagufa, 12 kilometres short of Tadmetla, citing security reasons, although other vehicles were allowed to pass through.

Local media outlets reported that Dantewada collector R Prasanna and Bastar Commissioner Srinivasulu too could not reach the villages and officials assigned to distribute relief were threatened by special police officers.

Despite the continuing clampdown by the police, the assault on Swami Agnivesh left many surprised, since the activist had been directly speaking with the Chief Minister himself.

Susequent to the attack, officials said Raman Singh summoned the director general of police. “He was asked to provide security to Swami ji,” said N Baijendra Kumar, principal secretary and spokesperson.

Official sources accepted there were serious differences between the police and the administration. “The police feel the relief material to the villages might end up with the Maoists, but the administration does not accept this view,” said an official.

The district collector had constituted a four member committee for an inquiry into the allegations against the police. Agnivesh asked how would the committee members be able to function in that environment of fear. “By arming Salwa Judum, Chhattisgarh has created a monster (special police officers). Now it is unable to control it”.

Recommended (1)

Maurya (Delhi)39 mins ago (06:42 PM)

Biased reporting, when people rise up against pseudo secular “swamis” like Agniihvesh who supports Jihadis and Maoists and thrash them, it becomes “stage managed” protest eh?? nice!! When hardcore terrorists and Jihadis conduct anti india conference in New Delhi that becomes “voice of the oppressed”.!! How convenient!Agree (6)Disagree (3)Recommend (2)

CHENNAI: Tirupati that houses the wealthiest temple in the country has become a haven for political agents assigned to distribute money for votes. Money from different parts comes to Tirupati from where they are dispatched in smaller portions to different parts of the state for distribution, intelligence agencies told TOI.

Each gang has nearly 15 members from various parts of the country and they are working in the eastern part of Tirumala, they said. “Groups converge at Tirupati from different parts of the county with huge money from unknown sources. If caught on the way, they tell officials that the money is an offering to the Tirumala temple. From here, the money is split into smaller portions and send out to Chennai and other parts of Tamil Nadu,” an intelligence wing official said.

There are three check-posts between Tirupati and Chennai, at Ponpadi, Othupet and Arampakkam. The Tamil Nadu police have recovered more than Rs 64 lakh in the last couple of weeks from vehicles on this 150-km stretch.

When asked about the intelligence inputs, Tirupati superintendent of police R Jaggarao said he was not in a position to confirm the intelligence report, but the Andhra police are keeping vigil. “We were planning to form five special teams to conduct surprise checks at suspected places in Tirupati,” he said.

TOI spoke to an agent near Ponpadi checkpost on the Chennai Tirupati highway on Friday morning. He said he was carrying Rs 50,000 to Chennai, but would not reveal the name of the party which has assigned him. By splitting the money that reaches Tirupathi into fractions as less as Rs 50,000, the agents escape scrutiny by Election Commission officials. The agent said their job had become easier after the Madras high court said that people should not be harassed in the name of checks.

Police said they are strengthening patrolling on the highway. “We have deployed three mobile units of Central Reserve Police for routine vehicle check-ups along with local police,” Tiruvallur superintendent of police V Vanitha said.

Comments (59)

Recommended (11)

nk.srikanth.nk (blore)Every single rupee donated to the places of worship in India should be accounted for. The authorities in these places have to start making a formal record of these donations. Details of the people who are donating above certain amount (huge amounts) should be required to give their identity (in the form of voter ID, DL, passport). Then the source of donation can easily be tracked.

swamivas (Hong Kong)8 mins ago (07:13 PM)

MOCKERY OF DEMOCRACY! Whatever be the modus operandi, the fact remains the forthcoming Tamil Nadu elections are already corrupted if not rigged, and the contesting main political parties are making a mockery of democracy!Agree (1)Recommend (1)

Indian (India)1 hr ago (05:49 PM)

90 % of the money that is put in that temple is BLACK MONEY ………first we should check the black money in OUR country before we try to bring Black money from abroad………….Agree (3)Disagree (3)

sage (India)1 hr ago (05:47 PM)

I dont know where my Country is heading …people here are incredible..Agree (3)

sshankar51 (Mumbai)1 hr ago (05:38 PM)

TOI is testing the patience of its readers. This idiot Ponnuswamy does not even know the difference between Tirupati and Tirumala. When crores are moving in cash in around the parliament which fool is going to carry cash to Tirupati and split into small packets and re-dispatch it to other parts? What intelligence agencies? Is he referring to IB? The sole purpose of this alleged article or report seems to be drag and malign the name of Tirupati and Tirumala through a concocted story. There is enough cash floating in Tamil Nadu without the need to bring cash from Andhra Pradesh. In any case there is no common political parties in Tamil Nadu and Andhra. Tell your reporter to do his home work before touching a typewriter and refrain from imputing some shady deals about Tirumala which is a very revered center for billions.Agree (4)Disagree (3)Recommend (4)

maayayogi (India)1 hr ago (05:32 PM)

I will appreciate people who ask money for vote. Nobody in the politics hounor consituency. Therefor, People need not abide by the rule but abide by their moral. I know this practice since 1972 from my child hood, but surprised why it came to focus now. What the inteligence agencies did for the 4 decades? I justify the peoples expectation for money because all ploticians earn inappropriate amount of money once they are elcted. In India, both Politicians and Pulic are entiltiled too much freedom and over democracy. People can ask the maximum as far as they can, but they always vote for their favories irrespective of money.

A Kumar (Mumbai)1 hr ago (05:29 PM)

This is sure ”Lord blessed democracy” to ensure the bribe goes to all stake holders of the carnival called TN elections.Disagree (1)

NK Gopalakrishnan (Mumbai)1 hr ago (05:23 PM)

Cash Transactions Sir, Is it not possible to fix the period of validity of a particular denomination of currency notes? For instance, the validity of Rs 1000 and Rs 500 notes should not exceed say two years

kumar (qatar)2 hrs ago (05:21 PM)

the younger generation should think about the indian democracy. if this is the way an election process is happening. just read the manifesto of the political parties in tamilnadu.india where is administrators of this process ec,cwc,cbi. just styudy about accountability of the governments, which prevails in the modern world.

NKG (Mumbai) replies to kumar1 hr ago (05:37 PM)

There are restrictions on expenditure. Good. Also, there should be restrictions on the contents of manifesto.

maayayogi (India)2 hrs ago (05:19 PM)

As I was associated at public level from the election process from my child hood, I stood that public ask for cash and others from the parties but they never vote for the money or other benefits they received It is not strange to get meney for vote. They vote according to their will and their predtermination. No amount of money can change their mind. People are wise to ask money during elction. But it is less compared to the amount policitians stage to manage in their TERM. Moreover all govt servants recieve money from public irrespective of goverments, it is the duty and responsiblity of the public to get back the money money once in 5 years with interest, I recomend people to ask for Rs.25000 to 50 000 from each party and vote for the real candidates. Dear Public Don’t go for promises what ever you get is you bonus for the next 5 years.Agree (1)Recommend (1)

Shyamal Ganguly (USA)2 hrs ago (05:16 PM)

Cunning as a fox, Pranab Mukherjee – instead of doing his circus in the Budget for AAM ADMI (he screwed AAM Admi favoring Middle class and the rich and increasing food price) should pass a bill that ANY TRANSACTION more than Rs. 10,000 has to be made through Banks – he would have wiped out all these hawala business. Pass the bill with punishment of prison sentences for the parties. This bill will create transparency and wipe out all corruptions at all the layers of Bureaucrats, Judges, Temples, politicians.Agree (1)

Subramani PK (Salem, TN)2 hrs ago (04:54 PM)

It is common practice to transact business with cash in our country whatever be the value. So people carry huge sums of money and sometimes this endangers their life also. Like in foreign countries use of credit/debit cards or cheques or on line payment etc is picking up very slowly and not encouraged also. There are no strict laws or enforcement machinery to ensure transaction by cash does not take place in higher values. For all our defects in the system we attribute ignorance and lack of education as the cause for non-enforcement or stricter law enactment. Besides vested interests at the helm of affairs in the political set up also interfere with streamlining of any useful system. Only remedy as suggested by Swami Ramdev is to withdraw all high denomination notes above 50 and ensure transaction at all levels through bank & cards. Those who even donate money for whatever be the cause should be only through bank and not cash. Ofcourse the banking system has to be improved as sometimes even ATMs go without cash and many a time out of order. Till such time something concrete is done to check the cash dealings there should be perfect vigilance from all departments concerned specially the election commission, IT , ED etc.Agree (1)

Rahul (india)2 hrs ago (04:36 PM)

Do we have any ruler in India having any feelings for the country and for the people of the country or all those looters who are born to robe the country and torture the common people.How much greed for money or fear to loose the power is digging these people in deep frustration up to their neck.Do we Indians ever get rid of slavery, poverty and shelfishness.Do we ever learn to live like humanbeing and show respect to others.We thirty percents of our whole population call ourself educated and civilized but we are still in dark and never tried to help and educate the rest of the seventy percent uneducated and poor population to become civilized.As long as we dont see ourself any rular doing something good in reality for the common people in our country we should not believe in fairy tales.Hope if some miracle happens and these greedy creatures would leave this plannet without laying their eggs to spreading their disease to destroy the atmosphere.

Mohammad (Abu Dhabi, UAE)2 hrs ago (04:30 PM)

See the reason behind floating new political parties by Ramdeve and Kanchi Shankracharya. There is no accountability to these institutions. Do the GOI has any committee to check their accounts. How the donations come and where being spent? Whether Ajmer/Haji Ali or Tirupathi/Somnath/Puri, accounts and donations of all these shrines should be scrutinised thoroughly. But the question is who will do? Politicians are corrupt we all know. What about the god-men and general public? Aren’t they corrupt too? We try to shield our corrupt men in the name of religion/region/language/party. Jago India Jago.Agree (4)Disagree (5)Recommend (2)

om (Lucknow) replies to Mohammad2 hrs ago (04:58 PM)

taking the name of Ramdev je and Kanchi Chankracharya, you are misleading the country. Just took some time to know them and their aim throughly. And this is certain, you will be sorry on some day.Agree (2)Disagree (1)

Mathihalli G Rao (pune)2 hrs ago (04:23 PM)

Money plays, says and amkes many things. Pray Lord to put THREE Namams to all political parties, who r using his name and place… God Bless Democracy and save India…

balu (bangalore)3 hrs ago (04:10 PM)

Mindless TOI ,first of all tirupathi is in state of Andhrapradesh not in tamilnadu.stop pouring venom against the tirupathi(Lord last incarnation to save human race),do not write such an degradatory stories based on so called intelligence agencies told TOI.Agree (9)Disagree (9)Recommend (4)

Jas (mumbai) replies to balu2 hrs ago (05:15 PM)

Tirupati is in TN..please update your geography ….being an indian its a shame you do not know about the country,,,,Disagree (1)

Tamilan (TN) replies to Jas1 hr ago (05:45 PM)

you know Jas ………Tirupati was supposed to be a part of TN …..they gave it away to AP in exchange of chennai which the telugu’s were demanding at that time…and many still say it used to be a Murugan temple . . .

Suresh (Pune) replies to Jas1 hr ago (05:26 PM)

Come on Jas, I think you are atleast 80 years old to talk about that…You for sure need a lesson in geography…

sam (chennai) replies to Jas1 hr ago (05:24 PM)

actually u dont know about india. tirupathi is in Andra pradesh

VINOD (calicut) replies to Jas1 hr ago (05:24 PM)

Please read your own statement loudly and it will hold good in your case

Subbu (Tirupur) replies to Jas1 hr ago (05:23 PM)

Tirupathi is in AP not in TNAgree (1)

Rama (Hyderabad) replies to balu2 hrs ago (05:03 PM)

Balu, your feeling for TPT as a religious place is understandable. Be realistic.It is close to Chennai with thousands of pilgrims visiting it everyday. TTD has become very controversial these days with the late CM of AP, Y.S.R appointing his cronies as TTD Chairmen (including a liquor baron – Adikesavulu Naidu)to mint money. Crores of rupees from TTD has gone into the hands of such people in the name of religious activities. Where there is so much money, there cannot be purity.

Benjamin (Delhi) replies to balu2 hrs ago (04:27 PM)

Read the article well, son…….

ANAND S (MADURAI)3 hrs ago (03:59 PM)

When the political system is corrupt, what the other esp Police/IT people are doing instead hitting the nail on its head??? Shame on politicians. Ealugunttulu vaada… GOVINDA!! GOVINDA!!!Agree (6)Disagree (1)Recommend (1)

suresh190149 (Mumbai)3 hrs ago (03:52 PM)

In the age of ATM,Debit/Credit cards it’s hard to understand why one should carry huge amounts of Cash.The donations to religious institutes can always be made through banks or cards,why and how this much cash is floating around this time of the Elections is a POINT which must be noted. Be Aware and be Awake my friends.All the bestAgree (2)

Prem (Chennai) replies to suresh1901492 hrs ago (04:37 PM)

Logic is incorrect. A few years back Rahul Bajaj or Kirloskar (I dont remember which one) appeared on TV to place their point of view opposing Chidambaram’s cash withdrawal tax in 2004. Their point, prima facie, appeared to be very valid. If they pay out the salaries of workers and labourers at their factory (most of whom are little educated), they prefer to get paid by cash. Transferring Rs. 100-150 for a daily wager to his bank account is absurd because the poor man’s needs are not going to be met by ration shops through an ATM card. Even personally when I purchased an LCD TV a couple of years back, the shopkeeper, after all the negotiations, told clearly that he can give a 2-3% discount if and only if the money is paid in cash, not card. I tried to reason with him that I am not using a credit card, but a debit card, but he refused to oblige stating that there is a huge delay in payments as well as charges imposed by visa and mastercard. Why should I waste Rs. 500-700 of my hard earned money to pay visa or mastercard? I scrambled and ran to a nearby ATM to withdraw the money from two or three different cards (because of the daily transaction limit) to pay the shopkeeper and get my product. In a value concious and price sensitive market as India, ATM cards would not succeed unless the card companies are willing to forego some revenues in favor of bigger market share.Agree (1)

Prof.R.Krishanmurthy (Bangaluru)3 hrs ago (03:49 PM)

… If EC wants to conduct fair elections in TN ,first arrest those accused in 2-G Scam. Then suspend TN government and impose President’s rule.Only after a gap of 1year ,conduct the elections when SC gives its verdict in Raja & Co case of 2-G .

Nagarjuna Reddy (Nagarjuna)3 hrs ago (03:35 PM)

Ohhh God…. Where are you???? ..See the mind of corrupted politicians… Finally they are playing with your sentiments too… Whats the punishment for them????Agree (7)Disagree (1)Recommend (4)

Indian (Bangalore)3 hrs ago (03:34 PM)

Govindia, Govinda!! If you think you are praying to Tirupati Balaji, it is NOT your mistake. It means that Government of India, Government of India. AP ruled by Congress and TN ruled by the DMK crooks and non-believers use the Hindu’s holy place of Tirupati, to once again capture power by note not vote.Money for all one knows could have come from Vatican and idiotic PM may even claim credit for bringing in FDI in elections.

ThinkingDimaag (India)3 hrs ago (03:31 PM)

How sad that Money donated by Hindus is not used for propogation of religion but thief politicians with no commitment towards Hinduism. Its high time the Tirupati Temple’s fund are audited by CAG and all the Hindu organisations keep a Hawk eye as to what good is being done to the religion with the money available.Agree (4)Disagree (2)Recommend (3)

Pappu (India)3 hrs ago (03:22 PM)

Vote applying your conscience, but whosoever wins, don’t forget to take your freebies. Because these freebies are not freebies, but purchase of your own money. These politicians think, we the Indians, are idiot and they would loot and rob the treasure of our country, the hard earned money of tax payers. May the god save this country from these corrupt politicians.Agree (1)

msn (India)4 hrs ago (03:19 PM)

Buffalos are being bought again by DMK, AIADMK for 5years. Most disgusting voters, sell they votes for Colour TV, Fridge, Mobile phones, and what not !Agree (3)Disagree (1)

HK (Mumbai)4 hrs ago (03:18 PM)

Politicians are equally corrupt and mean irrespective of their religion.Agree (2)

Raghav (Bangalore)4 hrs ago (03:16 PM)

Right….. They will provide free tv, mixer and grinder. Once they are in power… they will increase the electricity charges to the extent that you would think twice to use them….Agree (1)Recommend (1)

KP (BLR) replies to Raghav3 hrs ago (03:31 PM)

They increate the prices and collect Rs from the nations and distribute it to tamils/ resident of TN , go match these actions. Even congress only collects Rs and $$ for the family only and never distributes and buys votes cheap…

B P Rao (Hyderabad)4 hrs ago (03:00 PM)

Police is harassing common man on road while VVIPs and their chemchas convoys go without even a signal being turned red.Agree (2)Recommend (1)

Surya (Bangalore)4 hrs ago (02:51 PM)

One fine day, they will reach there destiny like Powerfull Rajashekara Reddy.Agree (4)Recommend (2)

SP PANDEY (DELHI)4 hrs ago (02:48 PM)

If only money from Tirupati was accompanied by Blessings of Lord, how wonderful would be the scenario.

SP PANDEY (DELHI)4 hrs ago (02:46 PM)

suryavans, What is your problem with the Title. Money is coming from Tirupati, not from Tirupati Temple. Tirupati (not the temple by that name, please mind), as the report suggests is a Distribution Center for onward journey. What are you agitated about.Agree (3)Disagree (3)Recommend (1)

Citizen of India (Earth, Asia, India.)4 hrs ago (02:42 PM)

In Tamil Nadu, they are buying the votes not only for cash but also for free rice, colour TV, Grinder, Fan, Laptop, etc. Really good politics. what is wrong with this? People are benifitting? I think next election, they will tell the people not to work and just sit at home and we will bring you everything. I am thinking to Migrate to Tamil Nadu. How this state got this much of money? In my state Government is looting the people. But here they are so generous and charity minded.Agree (7)Recommend (1)

The production of freebies is also generating employment. Hence, if quotation is lesser from outside TN for these electric items, other states too benefit. Not only Tamilians are lured of freebies, they are also provided good State transport buses and good interconnected metal Road networks and cheap electricity then other states in India. Only problem dragging foot of Tamilians is the continuous supply of potable water.

Delhi King (Delhi) replies to Citizen of India4 hrs ago (03:16 PM)

What ever the people benefited from election goodies. Have to pay back more than they got

B P Rao (Hyderabad) replies to Citizen of India4 hrs ago (03:04 PM)

Allready business houses and small and medium industiries in TN are adversely effected not just with these freebies but also thanks to Mahatma Gandhi Rural emplyoment scheme. Even where is is enough work for people this scheme is deployed just for the local political folks.Soon a tiem will come when total state will turn into anarchy with all financial channels being ruined.Hope that happens fast so that other states donot imitate these suicidal schemes.

Indian (India)4 hrs ago (02:38 PM)

Tirupathi money should be used to convert back People to HinduismAgree (5)Disagree (2)Recommend (3)

B P Rao (Hyderabad) replies to Indian4 hrs ago (02:58 PM)

Hiduism doesnot have any conversion practice.And I think you have not read teh news beyod its headline.The money is from Pseduo Atheist TN Dravidian parties and not from Lord Balajis temple.

Indian replies to B P Rao3 hrs ago (03:27 PM)

It was a general comment… Agreed, Hinduism does not have conversion practice. But at least the money can be used prevent conversion ?

HW (mumbai)4 hrs ago (02:37 PM)

Surprise checks at some places and disclosed in newspapers ha hahahaAgree (1)Disagree (1)

KP (Delhi)4 hrs ago (02:22 PM)

Really frustrating Heading ! Does the Tirupati Temple have anything to do with the Money being distributed out side the temple for political benefits ? Do you ever dare to write anything against any Church or Mosque in this fashion ?Agree (8)Disagree (5)Recommend (3)

k.venkatachalam venkatachalam (mumbai)5 hrs ago (02:16 PM)

any way i am glad to know money is being doled out from tirupathi all along it was reverse when enormous wealth was poured to tirupathiAgree (1)Disagree (7)

suryavans (India)5 hrs ago (01:52 PM)

And you find an apt headline… disgusting… church funded newspaper… where is the money coming to covert people.. did u ever write that..Agree (19)Disagree (10)Recommend (12)

HK (Bhubaneswar) replies to suryavans4 hrs ago (02:38 PM)

Please grow up now!!!Agree (3)Disagree (3)Recommend (1)

Jokes (Athavanad) replies to HK4 hrs ago (02:59 PM)

Give him little more time, it is not bacteria but human beingAgree (3)Disagree (1)

Jack (oman) replies to suryavans4 hrs ago (02:32 PM)

I wonder why the heck you pull out church in this political issue or party poll related issue. Guys like you need to mature in thinking and reading news. Grow up mentally not physically moron!Agree (6)Disagree (4)Recommend (2)

Madhusudhan (Hyderabad) replies to Jack4 hrs ago (02:46 PM)

SOB, Does anyone cared to investigate how much is coming from US /Rome Evangelists for conversions in India.Agree (2)Disagree (2)Recommend (2)

Indian (Athavanadu) replies to Madhusudhan4 hrs ago (03:12 PM)

Money is coming? nothing else. So it is good. kindly be a nationalist who appreciate progress of Indians. Hindu means the inhabitants of India (diversified culture, not religion or anything else.Agree (2)Disagree (1)Recommend (1)

Jack (oman) replies to Madhusudhan4 hrs ago (03:01 PM)

I guess only your family! Moron. SOB! Be relevant to the topic, idiot. Type of you sick mind guys living in the country spoils the whole nation along with corrupt politicians. Shame on you!Agree (3)Disagree (2)Recommend (1)

CHENNAI: Coming down heavily against promise of freebies by DMK and AIADMK for the April 13 Tamil Nadu assembly polls, BJP on Saturday assured the people it would provide an “honest” and “transparent” government if voted to power.

Releasing BJP manifesto, former party national president Bangaru Laxman said the ruling Dravidian parties through the years had failed to address developmental issues and only focussed on garnering more votes by announcing “freebies”.

Terming the freebies announced DMK and AIADMK as an “empty rhetoric”, he criticised the Dravidian parties for having failed to address the basic issue of price rise.

“If BJP comes into power, it will focus on the development of state”, he told reporters here.

Referring to BJP manifesto, party Tamil Nadu unit President Pon Radhakrishnan said “BJP is contesting in 194 constituencies and we are not interested in providing freebies. But we assure you to provide an honest and transparent government (if BJP comes to power)”.

Detailing some of the highlights on the manifesto, he said on the Cauvery river water issue with Karnataka, the party would try to get 205 TMC water annually for Tamil Nadu to help the delta farmers.

On the Mullaperiyar dam issue, he said action would be taken to retain the rights of Tamil Nadu and also raise the dam height to 142 feet as allowed by the Supreme Court. Action on interlinking of rivers would also be taken, he said.

Radhakrishnan said a separate ministry would be formed to protect the lives of Tamils living around the world.

For the welfare of Tamils in Sri Lanka, BJP would strive to give them equal rights and justice.

He said a law banning slaughter of cows and transportation of animals to other states would be brought.

On the Sethu Samudram issue, the manifesto said it would take steps to protect Ramar bridge besides ensuring to declare the bridge as a historical monument.

He said BJP senior leader Sushma Swaraj would campaign in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry.

Comments (13)

Recommended (5)

Sam (Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai)29 mins ago (06:59 PM)

My point was, Unfortunately, even though we know its bribery and corrupt,Things aren’t going to change period. whether you and me want it or not. No matter what, one of the main parties will always be in power in TN.The politicians get the big loot. The educated ppl, get good high paying jobs in the booming IT, Auto and other manufacturing industry. Things aren’t gonna change for the poor much, atleast i don’t see any harm in them benefiting with some freebies. Because thats all they going to get no matter which party comes into power, they dont benefit much from the progress. Hell 95% of them don’t even have toilets, the toilets in the slum in kuppam beach road, thiruvanmiyur has not been fuctional since the 90′s when it was built, it worked for a month, then no water, been closed since thats change& progress for you. About 700 yards from the slum on the other side of the kuppam beach road there is lot of beach facing land, all have been sectioned and sold off. It used to be pormpoku land(govt land) Guess who are the buyers???? All politicians, including karuna’s daughter. The lands are now worth excess of a few crores since they r beach facing and also Thiruvanmiyur is now a posh locality. I spoke to a few people from the slum a while back, to see how it happened as earlier it all belonged to the Kuppam, they said, the panchyat big shots were paid off, papers were forged, and the land deals were sealed. Just giving Thiruvanmiyur where I have lived most of my life.

Archana (Indore)55 mins ago (06:33 PM)

majority will vote to whoever gives them TV and mixer and DMK or AIDMK may come to power again.Disagree (2)

Sam (Thiruvanmiyur,Chennai)1 hr ago (06:22 PM)

Agreed, giving freebies & bribing is worst form of political campaign. Both parties are equally corrupt, no denying that. Only way ahead would be if some revolutionary party comes and changes things, but lets face it, thats never gonna happen in TN. Even if BJP evercomes, it will be another King looter. For you and I, tv sets, laptops, gold, grinder & other freebies is no big deal, But think of the millions & millions of poor people who would benefit from that, i know a lot of people living in sub standard condt, with hardly any possession. I have been raised in chennai and lived there most of my life.I see lot of software companies popping up everywhere, auto manufacturers popping up, plenty of urban progress, lots of people earning over 75K per month easy, BUT the poor are still the same, i still see the same people who used to live in huts, still in the same huts, doing the same things they did decades ago. Despite the claimed progress in IT and other fields, there is hardly ever any change for the uneducated or the poor. Giving rice at 1 ruppee per kg and tv sets etc, a lot of poor have benefited, atleast they get something. while the looters loot in crores, the poor gets a tv set. The dmk and aiadmk, know they can fool the poor people and the uneducated and get away with their votes offering freebies. Not much anyone can do about it. Its the way of life here. The masses needs to be educated to see the bigger picture. Just my opinion, no offense to intended.Agree (1)Disagree (2)

rahul (ncr)1 hr ago (06:04 PM)

by alexander tytler A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government. A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship. what we need is a constitutional republic where the govt is limited by the constitution aka rule of law and not rule of tyranny of majority aka democracyAgree (1)

ss (johannesburg)1 hr ago (06:01 PM)

what is election commission doing. what is central government doing. unfortunately Congress is part of the team. But where are our scholars, where are our good pliticians. why is this kind of bribery happening and nobody is questioning. this is day light cash for vote but election commission has not done anything. actually these parties should be banned for contesting and disband these parties and its members.Agree (4)

Jay (New Jersey)2 hrs ago (05:25 PM)

Offering ‘freebies’ for votes, looks so childish and exposes the political immaturity of these political parties and leaders. In Japan, when someone offers some fish to a starving man, he would refuse the fish, but ask for a fishing rod, so he can fish himself. Likewise, the people have to reject the old tricks of these politicians , offering something free and come to power, so they can loot huge amounts like what they have done in Adarsh, CWG or 2G, which are all in lakhs of crores. People should not be duped by these cunning politicians time and again. People have to tell them; GIVE US JOBS, WE WILL EARN OURSELVES AND BUY A TV OR LAP TOP. WE ARE NOT BEGGARS AFTER ALL ! You are the real beggar, begging for votes.Agree (9)Recommend (5)

S Balasubramanian (Thane (Maharashtra))2 hrs ago (05:13 PM)

This is a sophisticated form of corruption of the worst type. Bribe them with Government Money and earn votes to rule for five years or more. The ever grateful voters of Tamilnadu will never let go of DMK or ADMK. Bonded voters for life!Agree (9)Disagree (1)Recommend (3)

Srinivas (Chennai)2 hrs ago (05:11 PM)

We know what you’ll provide.. See yeddy in Karnataka… looting entire Karnataka… Today u may seem empty… give a state for 5 yrs.. and see ur property too will be 200 times more…. Can’t trust anyone.Agree (4)Disagree (8)

A K JHA (New Delhi)2 hrs ago (04:55 PM)

It is good that the BJP is contesting elections on its own in the sothern state of India. This will add a new dimension to the election and an additional option for the voters. The real issues concerning the development of the state needs to be highlighted and addressed rather than distributing TV sets etc. In fact the free (or susidised) distributuions are made by political parties not only for getting votes but also for making quick money on account of such purchases and distributions. Let us hope that people going to vote will understand the need of the hour and act accordingly.Agree (10)Disagree (2)Recommend (5)

Mukesh (Mumbai)2 hrs ago (04:50 PM)

Hey TN peoples this is what is required. The laptops and TV will cost just some thousands of Rs Which will allow the looters to loot you for five long years You will stand where u r and only DMK and AIADMK will progress at your cost.Agree (10)Disagree (2)Recommend (7)

GVR (India)2 hrs ago (04:48 PM)

In a state where the people have been reduced to the level of alms seekers and compete with each other to prove their ‘backwardness’ to get undeserved benefits (to hell with their actual financial status), what is the relevance of BJP?Agree (1)Recommend (1)

P.S.R.SWAMI (HDYERABAD )2 hrs ago (04:32 PM)

To attract voters and make them to caste their votes the easiest for EC is to organise a Cricket match on the next day of polling and distribute tickets to watch the match to those who ever votes. If the voters outnumber the capacity then they have to organise as per the capacity continuous matches. After person votes and comes by showing the indelible mark. In this way more voters take interest in casting votes and get the ticket to watch cricket match. Even charges are collected for the tickets people come and vote because they can get the tickets easily without struggling in front of the gates of the stadia and other palces where tickets are sold. Does our election laws permit bigamy to contgest in elections?

manoj (singapore)3 hrs ago (04:25 PM)

Wish BJP all the best in this election. We need nationwide footprints of the BJP. Only BJP is the alternative to a a corrupt, anti India, anti majority Congies.Agree (5)Recommend (4)

LUCKNOW: A social activist has registered an FIR against Facebook, the US based social networking website and its members for abusing Hindu religion and gods. The FIR accused a facebook profile of “instigating communal passions” and feared that it could lead to riots in India.

The complaint was lodged by a social activist Nutan Thakur in the civil lines police station of Meerut, under section 66 A of the Information Technology Act 2000.

“Though in my complaint I have named several persons whose comments and names figure in facebook, lot of them appear to be fake IDs,” Nutan told TOI. But, she added, there is a `virtual riot’ on the profile of facebook members of two communities where people post the choicest of abuses against the two religions — Hinduism and Islam.

The title of this facebook profile itself is highly inflammatory. In place of the photograph of the person who has created the account, a picture of Hindu gods have been placed with the title three idiots. The remarks from Hindus and Muslims are unprintable. The person who has created the profile has warned of creating such profiles if profiles insulting and abusing Islam were not removed from facebook. In response to this, people have posted anti-Islam remarks on the profile along with links of websites with equally bad abuses against Islam.

The act, says Thakur, amounts to promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of communities and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony, assertions prejudicial to national-integration , public nuisance (290 IPC), intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace, criminal intimidation and using information technology for these purposes.

Facebook Inc., she added, has been charged with providing the platform for dissemination of all the information and overlooking requests of several saner people to block the profile.

Last month, Thakur along with her IPS husband, Amitabh Thakur, had lodged complaint in Gomtinagar police station of Lucknow against a Faceboook group calling itself “we hate Gandhi”. Subsequently, Facebook blocked the profile.

Comments (1)

Sid Harth Harth (USA)

I don’t know whether I should laugh or cry at Nutan’s self serving diatribe against facebook (profile). If she is intent upon maintaining communal harmony in India between Hindus and Muslims quoting IPC 290, she could have been more accurate in cases where saffronites such as L K Advani, Bal Thackeray openly and flagrantly created mayhem in the past. These Hindu celebrities (sic) have not been charged with any crimes. Nutan Thakur and other of her ilk should address such issues where Indians in India and their cohorts in the USA, your chest thumping Desis/NRIs/Indian-Americans who are committing despicable crimes on the internet in the name of so called ‘Hindutva.’ These Hindu hoodlums also use fake names/IDs and malign other religions with nastiest language and intent. VHP (America) hires soldiers of fortunes such as one Dr Jai Maharaj who reign supreme on the usenet discussion groups managed by Google. There are volunteers like Satish Haldankar and others whose job it is to launch counter against any news item describing Sangh Parivar’s activities with accusations of bias, misreporting and to some extent anti-Hinduism. Hindu religion is not a private property of these insane people and nobody elected them to represent or defend Hinduism.

New Delhi, March 24, 2011Tehelka comes in handy for defensive CongressSmita Gupta

Days after being on the defensive on the WikiLeaks disclosures of a possible cash-for-votes scam back in 2008, a belligerent Congress went for the jugular, bringing cheer to the ruling party. In the Lok Sabha, it was a combative Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal; in the Rajya Sabha, Home Minister P. Chidambaram held the fort.

Emboldening the Congress on Wednesday was the publication of a news story in Tehelka, suggesting that the BJP had masterminded a cash-for-votes sting operation through the CNN-IBN channel in 2008, to destabilise the government.

Indeed, the Tehelka report came in handy, with Mr Chidambaram emphasising that the sting operation was not an independent journalistic exercise but a “deliberate attempt in collaboration with a political party” to destabilise the government, and adding the Delhi Police would include these new revelations in its investigations into the cash-for-votes scam.

In the Lok Sabha, Mr. Sibal quoted at length from the Tehelka report, to great effect. And Congress president and United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi, usually very circumspect, was provoked into heckling a surprised BJP member Yashwant Sinha.

The Prime Minister, too, stunned the Lok Sabha when he quoted a Urdu couplet to mock Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj, before going in for the kill, attacking the former Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani. Dr. Singh said Mr. Advani had never forgiven him as the BJP leader believed that “being the Prime Minister was his birthright.”

The impact of the combative performance of Dr. Singh, Mr. Sibal and Mr. Chidambaram, together with the publication of the Tehelka report, visibly lifted the mood of a despondent Congress. The Congress may not have been exonerated, but with the spotlight now on the BJP, the heat is no longer on just the ruling party. A Congress MP summed it up: “After today’s discussion, there is really very little left to say.”

The Tehelka report, which quotes the former CNN-IBN reporter, Siddharth Gautam, who was involved in the sting operation, says neither the Congress nor the Samajwadi Party was actively looking for MPs to buy — rather, it was the BJP which “had wilfully set out to entrap either the Congress or the SP into buying three BJP MPs so it could pull off a successful sting operation and discredit the government.”

This sting operation “appears to have had the sanction and collusion of respected BJP leaders like Sudheendra Kulkarni, Arun Jaitley and even L.K. Advani,” says the Tehelka report. The story is based on three pieces of evidence — the firsthand account of the former CNN-IBN reporter, 10 crucial phone recordings that show the BJP’s Ashok Argal frantically calling up people and shopping for someone to buy him and the other two BJP MPs on the night of July 21, 2008, the eve of the nuclear vote; and the parliamentary panel report which, it says, “is full of contradictory accounts which prove that every player in the scandal resorted to either blatant lies or at least half-truths.”

The Tehelka report, however, does not totally exonerate either the SP or the Congress: while the report shows there is absolutely no credible evidence to support the allegations against the Congress, it also “demonstrates that the parliamentary panel headed by Congress MP K.C. Deo and the Delhi Police did little to collate the evidence and nail the accused.”

Keywords: cash-for-votes scam, Tehelka sting operation

Email This Page Print This PageWatch out for dangers of hearsay: PMOUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

New Delhi, March 23: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today warned the Opposition not to take the “dangerous path” of destabilising the government on the basis of what one embassy official says about something, as was the case with WikiLeaks.

“Tomorrow, if another official of a foreign embassy takes it into his head to create a feeling of strife and distress among the political parties in our country, all that he has to do is to plant a diplomatic message, and also ensure that somehow it leaks,” he said.

“I think… this august Parliament should reflect as to what we are doing to our country. It is not in a spirit of any partisan upmanship I say this, but as someone who is worried about the aftermath, the after-effect of this development on the future management of our country.”

The Prime Minister reiterated that his government had committed no wrong during the trust vote in 2008 and accused the BJP of selectively quoting from the Kishore Chandra Deo Committee report to prove their charges.

Defending his statement that there was insufficient evidence to draw a conclusion of bribery, he recalled that the then Speaker Somnath Chatterjee had also said the Deo report did not establish the bribery charge.

Quoting from Somnath’s observations, he said: “Finding of the committee is that material on record does not conclusively prove that the money contained in the bag which was eventually displayed in the House was actually sent by the persons who were alleged to have sent it for the purpose of winning over the MPs to vote in favour of the motion of confidence”.

The same conclusion emerges when we study the report of the committee in totality, Singh said, adding “it is no use quoting sections which suit one’s convenience or which support one’s argument.”

The BJP was clueless for a few minutes after the reply and then walked out of the House, but by then the Prime Minister had already left.

Singh received full support from Congress members who forcefully rebutted the Opposition’s arguments on bribery and the veracity of the leaked US diplomatic cables.

Kapil Sibal made a powerful intervention, accusing the BJP of denigrating the Prime Minister’s office in its desperation to seek political advantage at every stage.

He cited a Tehelka report this morning that said the BJP’s top leaders had masterminded the cash-for-votes sting operation in collusion with a television channel. “Sushma Swaraj wanted to know who did it, it was done at your behest and the person who got it done is the leader of the other House,” he said.

Sibal also confronted Sushma for selectively quoting WikiLeaks owner Julian Assange to prove that the cables were authentic. “Assange also said that the contents may or may not be authentic,” he claimed.

If WikiLeaks was reliable then would the BJP accept what it says about Modi, that he was an insular and distrustful person and ruled through fear and intimidation, Sibal asked. Parliamentary affairs minister Pawan Bansal, who was the first speaker from the Congress, lamented that the House had to be held hostage over WikiLeaks only because the BJP was “desperate to grab power” by any means. He said other countries had rubbished WikiLeaks and described it as “cyber terrorism”.

Bansal denied that Singh had used the electoral logic to justify anything, pointing out that the Prime Minister had clearly said no crime had been committed by the government.

This was in answer to Sushma’s question why Narendra Modi was not acquitted in the Gujarat riots after his successive election victories and whether Rajiv Gandhi’s stunning win in 1985 washed off the blame for the anti-Sikh riots.

New Delhi, March 23, 2011No cash was given for votes: ManmohanJ. Balaji

The Hindu Prime Minister Manmohan Singh listens to Bharatiya Janata Party leader L.K.Advani at the Parliament House in New Delhi on Wednesday. Photo: R. V. Moorthy

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday reiterated that no one from the Congress or the government had indulged in any lawful act as alleged in a U.S. Embassy cable published in The Hindu on March 17.

“I would like to make it clear once again that none from the Congress party or the government indulged in any such unlawful act during the trust vote in 2008. We have not been involved in any such transaction and we have not authorised any one to indulge in such transactions,” he said in both Houses of Parliament, while replying to a short-duration discussion on the WikiLeaks report.

Refusing to entertain the cable’s charge of a Congress politician showing two chests of bribe money to a U.S. Embassy staffer, Dr. Singh devoted a substantive portion of his reply to an attack on the Opposition benches, particularly the BJP.

Targeting senior BJP leader L.K. Advani, he said: “Advaniji believes that becoming the Prime Minister was his birthright and therefore, he has never forgiven me…All I can say to Advaniji is that people of India have voted us to power in free and fair elections. Please wait for another three-and-a-half years.”

This was not the first time in his parliamentary career that he was facing an Opposition onslaught of this type. “I have had to go through that as Finance Minister and as the Prime Minister. The main Opposition party, right from 2004, adopted the attitude that we are a usurper.”

On the WikiLeaks cables, he said it was not possible for the government to confirm the veracity or the contents of such communication. “If they exist, they would be communications from U.S. diplomats stationed in Delhi to their government in Washington. It is not open to us to enquire from either of the two regarding the communications they exchanged among themselves.” Many persons referred to in those communications had strongly denied their veracity, he said.

On the report of the V. Kishore Chandra Deo committee, set up by the 14th Lok Sabha to go into the allegations of some BJP MPs that they were offered money to cross-vote in the confidence motion, Dr. Singh said the Committee had concluded that there was insufficient evidence to conclude “bribery” had taken place. “I am convinced that taking the report as a whole, this is a correct inference.” The Opposition had earlier accused him of distorting the contents of the report.

To buttress his argument, Dr. Singh read out the statement of then Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, who, while introducing the Committee’s report in the House on December 16, 2008, had said: “…material on record does not conclusively prove that the money contained in the bag, which was eventually displayed in the House, was actually sent by the persons who were alleged to have sent it for the purpose of winning over Shri Ashok Argal, Shri Faggan Singh Kulaste and Shri Mahavir Bhagora to vote in favour of the Motion of Confidence. The Committee have, however, found the evidence given before the Committee by three persons involved in this episode as unconvincing, and the Committee have suggested that their role in the matter needs to be investigated by investigating agencies.”

Later the matter pertaining to the three MPs was referred to the Union Home Ministry for appropriate action. Subsequently it was sent to Delhi police for a probe which was on the job now.

The Prime Minister said he wanted to leave it to the good sense of the House to decide for itself whether the report of the Committee in any way substantiates the wild allegations levelled by some Opposition members against the government.

Disclosures made by the WikiLeaks and published by The Hindu continued to rock both Houses of Parliament as a united Opposition on Wednesday slammed the UPA government over the “cash-for-votes” scam. It trained its guns on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as he happened to be the “biggest beneficiary” of the trust vote he sought in July 2008.

Raising a discussion in the Lok Sabha on Dr. Singh’s March 18 statement on The Hindu’ s report made under Rule 193, which does not entail voting, Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj launched a sharp attack on the Prime Minister, saying as head of the government he could not shirk his responsibility. Dr. Singh was intently listening to the discussion.

Objecting to his description of the WikiLeaks cables as “unverified, speculative and unverifiable,” she said the disclosures could not be dismissed in such a manner.

“It is the habit of the Prime Minister to blame others. If it is price rise, then Sharad Pawar [Agriculture Minister] is responsible; if it is 2G, then it is A. Raja [former Telecom Minister] and if it is Commonwealth Games scam, then [Suresh] Kalmadi is to be blamed.”

Ms. Swaraj said people were fed up with the Prime Minister’s excuses like “I don’t know anything, I am not aware of anything, there are coalition compulsions and I am not that much guilty as I am made out to be.” She said people were asking, “If you do not know anything, then why are you the Prime Minister?”

Amid frequent interruptions by Congress members, she said that after the Parliament Inquiry Committee had recommended further probe into the cash-for-votes scam, the Delhi Police Crime Branch registered a case in January 2009 and the Central Forensic Science Laboratory verified the authenticity of the tapes of a sting operation.

Pointing out that the Prime Minister had not mentioned this in his statement, Ms. Swaraj said: “Nobody tells you anything? This is why I have given notice of a breach of privilege motion.”

The Opposition leader also objected to the Prime Minister’s reference, in his statement, to the 2009 electoral victory of the Congress, saying it was a dangerous argument. For, a poll victory could not wash the stains of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots on the Congress.

Ms. Swaraj said India’s democracy was “shamed” by the ‘cash-for-votes’ scam and an electoral victory or loss would not wash it off.

Earlier, initiating the discussion, CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta accused the Prime Minister of having resorted to “parliamentary piracy” to win the vote of confidence in 2008 and demanded that he come clean.

The parliamentary panel report had recommended “investigation by an appropriate agency” into the alleged attempts to purchase votes to win the trust vote, he pointed out.

“It’s a case of parliamentary piracy because some members were hijacked. The suspicion is that an organised group of political gangsters was at work,” Mr. Dasgupta said even as his remarks evoked angry protests from the treasury benches.

As the CPI leader demanded a probe into the large-scale absenteeism among opposition members during the trust vote, ruling party members including the Congress’ Raj Babbar, Sanjay Nirupam, Annu Tandon and Mahabal Mishra were on their feet protesting the reference.

“Might is right”

Mr. Dasgupta said “electoral verdict cannot condone criminality if it has been perpetrated.” However, Dr. Singh’s argument gave credence to the “might is right” theory, a dangerous proposition in a functional democracy.

“I concede that the Prime Minister was precise in his statement and the statement was cogent. He was very prompt in throwing the ball in the court of the Opposition, his tone was very firm and he was firm in rejecting the complaints on cash-for-votes,” Mr. Dasgupta said adding a “linguistic fervour” was used to conceal the facts.

Did you verify documents?

Defending the government, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said Dr. Singh’s statement was based on facts and accused the Opposition of creating an “environment of crisis” on the basis of WikiLeaks documents which should not be given any importance.

Contending that the BJP was misinterpreting the facts, he asked whether the main Opposition had verified the contents of the WikiLeaks documents or whether it could do so.

“You consider it the truth? … Whenever you attacked the Prime Minister, he has emerged stronger because he has that kind of personality.”

Mr. Bansal said there was nothing wrong in the Prime Minister mentioning about the 2009 electoral win. He said the BJP was raising the issue as it was not able to digest the UPA’s victory in 2004 and again in 2009.

In an oblique reference to the ‘turf war’ in the BJP, Mr. Bansal said the “problem is within” and appealed to it to rely on facts and not give credence to “wild allegations.”

When he pointed out that the Parliament Inquiry Committee had recommended a probe against Sudheendra Kulkarni, former close aide of BJP leader L.K. Advani in the ‘cash-for-vote’ scam, the BJP members including Yashwant Sinha countered, asking why the case had not been pursued for the last three years.

Gandhinagar, March 22, 2011Modi upbeat but rivals say there is nothing to crow aboutManas Dasgupta

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. Photo: P.V. Sivakumar

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party are buoyant over the WikiLeaks revelations, as reported in The Hindu on Tuesday, suggesting that the U.S. was “recognising” the “fast-paced developments” in the State.

Mr. Modi was happy about U.S. Consul-General in Mumbai Michael S. Owen describing him as an “incorruptible” leader. “It is one thing to describe someone as non-corrupt and quite another to be told that he or she is incorruptible. It feels great to be described as incorruptible,” Mr. Modi told journalists on the sidelines of a seminar on “Water for inclusive growth” held on the occasion of World Water Day here.

He said he was happy that at a time when other WikiLeaks reports had raised accusing fingers against the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre, the cables described the Gujarat administration under him as “corruption-free” and attributed the State’s development to this aspect.

Mr. Modi was also happy that the U.S. Consul-General reported “faithfully and correctly” the details of the meeting he had with Mr. Owen in November 2006. “When he broached the subject of alleged human rights violations in Gujarat in 2002, I looked straight into his eyes and told him that at least the U.S. is not competent to teach me about human rights. I told him that I am a proud son of India where human rights are highly honoured and recounted a list of instances where the U.S. had blatantly violated human rights. It is nice on Mr. Owen’s part that he had reported this to his higher-ups faithfully and correctly as revealed from the WikiLeaks,” Mr. Modi said.

Asked whether he considered the cables on the Gujarat riots and such other issues as U.S. interference in the internal matters of the country, Mr. Modi said the question should be directed at the Central government.

“U.S. keen on ties”

State Cabinet spokesman and Health Minister Jaynarayan Vyas said the revelations proved that the U.S. was not only “repenting” the “mistake” of not granting Mr. Modi a visa but had also showed keenness to try to improve relations with the Chief Minister. “Now has the U.S. started realising the reality,” he said.

BJP spokesman Vijay Rupani said the WikiLeaks reports would propel Mr. Modi into the national stage. The reports showed the importance the U.S. attached to the Gujarat Chief Minister as a prospective national leader. “This has become a matter of pride for us.”

Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Shaktisinh Gohil, however, described Mr. Modi’s “interpretations” of the WikiLeaks as “day-dreaming” and said the Chief Minister was deliberately “misreading” the reports to mislead the people in the State.

“Now that he has realised that he cannot get a good conduct certificate from the people of Gujarat, he is trying to get “bogus certificates” from outside,” Mr. Gohil said. At no stage had the U.S. Consul-General described Mr. Modi as “incorruptible” and only stated that corruption at the lower levels of the administration had been considerably reduced. The same cable mentioned that at the higher levels and particularly in relation to the big industrial houses, “corruption had increased manifold,” Mr. Gohil claimed.

Human rights activists and other non-governmental organisations also refused to attach much significance to the WikiLeaks reports. “They merely show that the U.S. is concerned about his rise. Had the U.S. been really warming to him, they would have lifted the embargo on him,” Fr. Cedric Prakash, human rights activist and director of the voluntary organisation, Prashant, said.

New Delhi, March 22, 2011Food Ministry to give comments on Narendra Modi’s report in 15 daysPTI

PTI Prime Minister Manmohan Singh receives the Report of Working Group on Consumer Affairs from its Chairman and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. A PTI file photo.

The food and consumer affairs ministries will soon submit their views to the Prime Minister on the recommendations made by the Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi-led working group, including a ban on futures trading in essential commodities to control inflation.

“We are examining the suggestions of the working group headed by Gujarat CM and we will submit our views on the recommendations related to my ministries to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the next 15 days,” Food and Consumer Affairs Minister K V Thomas said yesterday.

Asked about the ministries’ view on the working group’s suggestion of banning futures trade in essential items, Thomas said, “We have an open mind (on this issue),” but refrained from further comment.

The Working Group on Consumer Affairs, set up in April, 2010, to find ways to control retail prices, had submitted the report to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on March 2. Apart from Gujarat, the Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra were members of the group.

The group has made 20 recommendations with 64 action points, ranging from banning futures trade in essential items to making offences under the Essential Commodities Act as non-bailable. It has also suggested setting up special courts for early trials.

“Considering the lack of strong linkages between spot and future markets at present, the Modi Report suggested that for the time being, essential commodities should be kept out of the futures market,” an official release had said.

Commodity markets regulator FMC has already suspended futures trading in rice, tur and urad, but wheat and sugar are still traded.

The working group had also asked the government to explore unbundling of Food Corporation of India’s (FCI) operations in terms of its procurement, storage and distribution functions.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) did not respond to Indian requests for assistance in the investigation into the IC-814 hijacking as it did not want to cooperate in what it internally described as “fishing expeditions.”

Wearying of playing the go-between, the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi urged Washington to bring to an end “this ongoing cycle of requests” by giving the Indian government a “clear negative response” rather than “perpetuating a fruitless dialogue.”

But on a later occasion, it urged greater cooperation with Indian investigators in the interests of the developing bilateral strategic relationship.

U.S diplomatic cables of 2005, accessed by The Hindu through WikiLeaks, reveal how wary Washington was just a few years before the Mumbai 2008 attacks about sharing information with India, especially where it concerned Pakistan.

The Indian Airlines flight from Kathmandu to New Delhi was hijacked and taken to Kandahar in Afghanistan in 1999.

India surrendered to the hijackers’ demand for the release of three militants including Masood Azhar, who went on to form the Jaish-e-Mohammed.

In exchange, the government secured the freedom of all but one — the hijackers killed him — of the 178 passengers and 15 crew on board the aircraft. The Taliban government in Afghanistan provided safe passage to the five hijackers and the three released militants.

India registered a case and began investigations into the hijacking. The U.S. too registered a case as there was one American citizen among the passengers.

When U.S. forces invaded Afghanistan in 2001 after the 9/11 attacks, ousted the Taliban government and detained many of its leaders, India asked the Americans for access to those linked to the hijacking. New Delhi also wanted access to records the U.S. may have seized in Afghanistan that could help India’s case.

Two non-papers

More than three years later, India was still pushing for its “pending requests”. In March 2005 and again in May that year (Cable 29497: confidential, March 24, 2005; 32567: confidential, May 13, 2005 ) the Ministry of External Affairs handed over identical “non-papers” — diplomatic jargon for an informal memorandum — to U.S. Embassy officials in New Delhi, reiterating the requests.

Both times, Deputy Chief of Mission Robert O. Blake transmitted the non-papers to Washington, along with the response from the Embassy Legal Attache, an FBI position in U.S. diplomatic missions.

In both instances, the Legal Attache had the same response: “Legatt noted that the FBI has shared all its information relevant to the hijacking of IC-814 with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), India’s lead federal law enforcement agency, but has not acquiesced on requests it deems ‘fishing expeditions’.”

The only addition he made to his response in May was that he had not conveyed the FBI’s “fishing expedition” sentiment to India.

However, Mr. Blake added that the MEA request showed “senior-level attention to the IC-814 matter and perception at that level that the USG has been less than fully forthcoming.”

Making an “action request,” he urged that “we need to bring an end to this ongoing cycle of requests […] and a clear negative response would be preferable to perpetuating a fruitless dialogue. The FBI has reportedly exhausted its ability to cooperate, and we should directly inform both CBI and MEA to that effect, with specific confirmation on what evidence is or is not in US possession.”

Later that year, Mr. Blake sent another cable on the subject (45536: secret, November 18, 2005), this time urging Washington to take the Indian request seriously: cooperate more.

Reason: MEA Joint Secretary (Americas) S. Jaishankar had told him and the Embassy Political Counselor at a meeting on November 18 that “a USG failure to respond to earlier information requests […] regarding the hijacking of IC-814 could infringe on the broader US-India law enforcement/intelligence relationship.”

The trial of the 10 persons who were accused in the hijacking — seven of them in absentia — was winding down. Dr. Jaishankar conveyed “that the GOI, in absence of a US reply, will be forced to state in court that they are unable to proceed further due to US inaction.”

Immediate action now, the MEA official said, “would forestall such an embarrassing event.”

Mr. Blake urged that “to prove our new strategic partnership extends to the intelligence areas, we should share fully what we know. Such a step may prompt India to share more fully as well. Jaishankar is clearly testing the limits of our transformed relations.”

His requested action this time was “to verify the Indian’s claims about the hijackers’ detention status. If they are in USG detention, we should grant Indian access or share information we have gleaned on the IC-814 hijacking.”

The HIndu The mounting Tarapur spent-fuel stockpile poses greater safety and environmental hazards than probably at any other plant in the world. A view of the Tarapur Atomic Power Plant 1, at Tarapur. File photo: Vivek Bendre

The new bribery revelations, a rigged process to import reactors and safety-related concerns must lead to the long-blocked scrutiny of the nuclear deal by Parliament.

The world’s worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl raises troubling questions about India’s plans for a huge expansion of its nuclear power programme through reactor imports. Given its low per-capita energy consumption, India must generate far more electricity to economically advance. So it needs more nuclear-generated power. The real issue thus is safe and cost-competitive nuclear power.

What is disconcerting about India’s plans for massive imports is that they are not part of a well-thought-out strategy but a quid pro quo to the United States, France and Russia for bringing the Indo-U.S. civil nuclear deal to fruition, including through a Nuclear Suppliers Group waiver. For example, while keeping Parliament in the dark, the UPA government faxed a letter to U.S. Undersecretary of State William Burns on September 10, 2008 — just hours before the White House sent the deal to the U.S. Congress for ratification — committing India to import a minimum of 10,000MW of nuclear-generating capacity from the U.S.

As the WikiLeaks’ revelations, published by The Hindu, underscore, the U.S. has a big stake in the nuclear deal and went to unusual lengths to drum up support in India and ensure the outcome it desired. And although the deal is loaded with largely one-sided and irrevocable conditions for India, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh staked his premiership on getting the deal through.

The WikiLeaks’ disclosures over the cash-for-votes scandal during the consummation process only confirm the role mucky money played in lubricating the deal. Now big money is influencing the opaque contract making.

Those who pushed the deal through without building national consensus or permitting parliamentary scrutiny now seem too invested in this deal to objectively gauge long-term safety or the cost competitiveness of reactor imports. One indication of this is the unabashed manner in which a nuclear park has been exclusively reserved — without any competitive-bidding process — for each of the four preferred foreign vendors. Yet after Fukushima, several major safety concerns stand out:

India is committed to importing reactor models that are yet to be operated in any country, including state-owned Areva’s 1630MW European Pressurised Reactor (EPR) and the General Electric-Hitachi’s 1520MW Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor (ESBWR), which is still to receive the final U.S. design certification.

There is no justification for importing untried reactor models. In the 1960s, GE sold India the first two prototypes of its Boiling Water Reactor (BWR), whose designs it later supplied for all six reactors at the now-crippled Fukushima Daiichi plant. India had little option then because nuclear power was relatively new. The GE-built Tarapur plant faced important operating and safety issues, in part because the Americans cut off supply of even safety-related replacement parts in response to the Pokharan I test. Today, the rush to buy untried foreign-reactor technology is simply indefensible.

It is only after the Fukushima nuclear crisis unfolded that India’s nuclear chief belatedly acknowledged the need for an earthquake- and tsunami-related safety evaluation of Areva’s EPR design. Why wasn’t this done before committing India to buy the EPR prototype?

The drive to build energy “security” by importing foreign fuel-dependent reactors — that too without transparency, open bidding and public accountability — is nothing but a money-spending boondoggle, with the potential to generate hundreds of millions of dollars in kickbacks for the corrupt.

In an openly manipulated process, price negotiations are taking place only after each of the four chosen foreign vendors has been gifted an exclusive seaside nuclear park to build reactors. What bargaining power are the authorities left with when they have already reserved each park for a particular firm?

With the rise of the corporate nuclear lobby, the line between the seller and the buyer has blurred. The nuclear deal was pushed through by the Prime Minister’s Office with the aid of some serving and retired nuclear officials, private-sector companies attracted to nuclear business, and interested foreign governments and vendors. The very entities and consultants that are set to reap major commercial gains helped build the dubious case for massive reactor imports by India.

Now an incestuous and unethical relationship exists between the buyer and seller, underscored by the moves to place initial import contracts worth more than $10 billion without any competitive bidding. It may require the Supreme Court’s intervention to stop this brazen cronyism, or else a 2G-style scam would likely unfold, but with long-term safety ramifications.

To compound matters, the line between the regulator and the operator has also blurred. And the secrecy enveloping the nuclear military programme has unwarrantably been extended to a purely commercial sector — nuclear power.

Structurally, the national regulator, the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, is in no position to act independently because, like the operator, it is under the Department of Atomic Energy. More worrying, however, is the manner in which the Board has become the handmaiden of the political agenda set in New Delhi.

Before embarking on a major expansion of its programme, shouldn’t India first create a strong, truly independent nuclear regulator?

Worse still, the planned import of four different types of new Light Water Reactor (LWR) technology will make India’s nuclear-power complex the most diverse in the world. Technological diversity may be good to obviate reliance on one supplier. But the wide-ranging diversity India is getting into will make its safety responsibilities extremely arduous and complex, given the multiplicity of reactor designs it already has in place.

It takes a long time to create teams of experienced safety engineers for any reactor model. But when a particular reactor model is still not in operation anywhere, training of engineers cannot even begin. By contrast, India has immense experience in building, operating and safeguarding indigenous CANDU-style reactors.

The chain of incidents engulfing all six Fukushima Daiichi reactors was triggered by their close proximity to each other. With a flare-up at one reactor affecting systems at another, Japan ended up with serial blasts, fires, spent-fuel exposures, and other radiation leaks.

This seriously calls into question India’s decision to approve the construction of six and more large reactors at each new nuclear park. The plans to build clusters of reactors must now be abandoned.

At Fukushima, the spent-fuel rods — holding most of the highly radioactive uranium at the site — have proved a bigger radiation problem than the reactor cores. This shines a spotlight on the spent-fuel challenges at the sister but older plant in Tarapur, where the discharged fuel has been accumulating for over four decades because the U.S. has refused to either take it or allow India to reprocess it.

The mounting Tarapur spent-fuel stockpile poses greater safety and environmental hazards than probably at any other plant in the world. The spent-fuel rods — unlike the reactors — have no containment structure, and they endanger public safety in India’s densely-populated commercial heartland.

The spent-fuel bundles are kept under water in bays at a special facility at Tarapur. But such temporary pools have proven Fukushima’s Achilles heel.

The cost to move the spent-fuel rods in secure dry casks to a faraway desert area will be prohibitive. India already has borne high storage costs at Tarapur. Those costs should not only be billed to Washington, but India must exert pressure on America to agree to the immediate spent-fuel reprocessing under international safeguards — the only viable option to contain the risks.

India’s nuclear accident-liability legislation has seriously burdened the Indian taxpayer by capping the liability of foreign suppliers at a modest level. With the foreign vendors also freed from the task of producing electricity at marketable rates, the taxpayer is to subsidise the high-priced electricity generated. For the foreign vendors, there is no downside risk; only profits to reap. Yet GE and Westinghouse are unhappy with the state operator’s right of recourse.

The legislation was passed after the BJP — a party too compromised to be able to withstand pressures — cut a deal with the government. But after Fukushima, it is important to tighten some provisions of the legislation, which goes beyond U.S. law to channel both economic liability and legal liability to the state and abridge victims’ legal rights.

More broadly, before signing multibillion-dollar contracts, India must first formulate a coherent nuclear-power policy that also addresses safety issues. After all, Dr. Singh is seeking to take India from a largely indigenous capacity to a predominantly import-based programme by implicitly jettisoning Dr. Homi Bhabha’s vision and strategy. Not only is the goal of a self-reliant thorium fuel cycle now pie in the sky, but India is also set to become dependent on foreign suppliers even for critical safety-related replacement parts.

Actually, the corrupt means employed in engineering the nuclear deal must now lead to its long-blocked scrutiny by Parliament. A larger question haunting the country is whether it has institutionally become too corrupt to be able to effectively uphold nuclear safety in the long run — a concern reinforced by the troubled state of internal security, high incidence of terrorism and politicisation of the nuclear establishment.

New Delhi, March 18, 2011`Pause a little’, Ramesh on safety of n-plants in IndiaPTI

Amid growing concerns over the nuclear catastrophe in Japan, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh on Friday said the country should “pause a little” to look at the “state of preparedness” of the atomic plants to deal with emergencies like tsunami and earthquake.

Mr. Ramesh, however, said he was not making a case for the country to forever abandon nuclear power.

Terming as “horrendous” what happened to Japan’s nuclear safety in the aftermath of devastating earthquake and the resultant massive tsunami on March 11, Mr. Ramesh said, “We have to draw the appropriate lesson.”

“I think we have to pause a little, we have to look at the safety system. We have to look at our state of preparedness for emergencies like tsunamis and so on,” Mr. Ramesh said on the sidelines of the “India Today Conclave 2011” here.

“It is not an abandon button. It is a time for calm and cool thinking,” Mr. Ramesh said but made it clear that India is not going to abandon nuclear energy forever.

“That is clearly an unrealistic position to take given the need of our energy requirement. What happened in Japan is fully shocking and we have to do a thorough independent professional audit of our systems,” the Minister said.

His comments came amid concerns by environmentalists over safety of the planned Jaitapur nuclear plant in Maharashtra if it is affected by an earthquake or a massive tsunami.

Keywords: nuclear energy, nuclear safety, Indian n-plant

Opinion » Editorial

March 23, 2011All set for the fight

By taking three weeks for their pre-electoral exertions such as cobbling together alliances and identifying seats and candidates, political parties in Tamil Nadu have taken up half the time the Election Commission of India gave them to face a general election to the State Assembly on April 13. None of the parties was quite ready for elections at such uncomfortably short notice, but the election authorities perhaps felt that the campaign phase might be better supervised and the possibility of voter bribery and more subtle blandishments more effectively curbed if the campaign phase was kept to the minimum. The campaign dust is set to swirl from now on, marking the beginning of an acrimonious spell of electioneering. This is essentially a two-cornered contest between the fronts led by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). History bears down on the DMK as no party has been elected back to power since 1984. But its veteran leader, Chief Minister Muthuvel Karunanidhi, nurtures hope of bucking this trend, armed with what he believes is a winning election manifesto and a track record of implementing a number of welfare measures. On the other side, the AIADMK led by a charismatic and strong leader has roped in the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) led by actor Vijayakant, whose ambition to emerge a leading player in the State political stage has been tempered by experience and is now a willing ally in the project to oust the DMK regime. With the Left parties on her side, the alliance leader, former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, will seek to cash in on the DMK’s 2G-related travails and other embarrassments, besides anti-incumbency ingredients such as the price spiral, the power shortage, and allegations of corruption and ‘family rule.’

With DMK-Congress ties coming under strain in the shadow of the Supreme Court-monitored investigation into the 2G spectrum allocation scandal, the Congress resorted to unabashed arm-twisting to extract 63 seats from the DMK kitty, thereby shrinking the ruling party’s own presence in the poll fray to just 119 candidates of its own and a few from minor allies contesting on its symbol. There is no chance of the DMK forming a government on its own strength, as any party would need 118 seats to touch the majority mark in the 234-member legislature. Despite the fight being mainly between two muscular opponents, the bewildering array of smaller parties — which bank on caste support or whose sway is confined to regions — in both fronts makes Tamil Nadu a laboratory specimen for notions of alliance arithmetic and inter-party chemistry. The alliance leaders will hope that the bitterness and brinkmanship of the negotiation phase would not spill over to the campaign stage. But across the divide, the fight is set to be fierce.

According to dependable sources, the chargesheet would also name at least two corporate houses, Swan Telecom and Unitech. Official sources said the CBI would stick to the deadline set by the Supreme Court and file the first chargesheet before March 31.

The SC is monitoring the CBI investigation into the arbitrary allocation of the 2G spectrum to chosen companies in 2008, which may have caused a loss of up to Rs 176,000 crore to the exchequer.

Sources said the first chargesheet would focus on the criminal conspiracy to doctor eligibility and alter the first-come-firstserved policy. The chargesheet would also include charges under forgery and cheating.

There would be more chargesheets, given the scope and number of conspirators in the case. CBI sources said the subsequent chargesheets could name DMK patriarch Karunanidhi’s daughter MK Kanimozhi, a Rajya Sabha MP and promoter of Kalaignar TV, and many others. Several companies directly or indirectly involved in the scam and many officials involved in allocation of 2G spectrum and licences would also be named, sources said.

The CBI is still investigating the role of Anil Ambani’s Reliance group, Loop Telecom , Essar group, Tata group, Videocon , S Tel , Shyam Mobile , Alliance Infra , Dishnet and others. It is also looking at the role played by individuals, including many corporate leaders, DoT officials and others.

The market regulator is cracking the whip on manipulators who use internet blogs, chat forums, emails and social networking sites for price rigging.

In a bid to check circulation of unsubstantiated news which could distort normal functioning and prices of stocks, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has announced a new set of code of conduct for staff of broking houses and other market intermediaries.

The registered market intermediaries, regulated by the Sebi, are directed that proper internal code of conduct and controls should be put in place, the regulator said in a circular.

“The staff of broking houses and other intermediaries should be discouraged from circulating information obtained from clients or others without proper verification,” it said, adding that there should not be any kind of unsubstantiated news, which could distort normal functioning the prices of stocks. Sebi has observed that unauthenticated news related to various scrips are circulated in blogs, chat forums or e-mails by employees of broking houses and other intermediaries in violation of rules.

Ads by Google How to Invest in Stocks Buy Stocks for $4 – No Minimums $50 Account Bonus – Sign Up Now!www.ShareBuilder.comMake Easy Money In 1 Hour Simple & New Options Trading Arena If you’re smart, you can make $100swww.EZTrader.comLearning Stock Trading Use Simple, Easy to Understand Platforms to Learn Stock Trading!OptionsHouse.com

“The intermediaries do not have proper internal controls and do not ensure that proper checks and balances are in place to govern the conduct of their employees,” Sebi said, adding that such speculative news and “rumours” can affect the functioning of the markets and distort prices of bourses. In the circular, the watchdog further said that access to blogs, chat forum and other sites should either be restricted under supervision or access should not be allowed.

“Logs for any usage of such blogs/chat forums/messenger sites shall be treated as records and the same should be maintained as specified by the respective regulations which govern the concerned intermediary. Any market related news should be forwarded only with approval of concerned personnel,” it added.

“If an employee fails to do so, he/she shall be deemed to have violated the various provisions contained in Sebi Act/Rules/Regulations etc and shall be liable for actions,” it said. The stock exchanges have also been directed to make necessary amendments to the relevant rules and regulations for implementation of decision. A committee, appointed by the regulator comprising representatives from market intermediaries, had earlier suggested the need for such a code of conduct.

Sebi is putting in place new software tools that would analyse discussions on social networking platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. The regulator has implemented a new tool for speedy analysis of data and identification of possible violations like insider trading and front running. The new tool, named Data Ware Housing and Business Intelligence System, will enhance Sebi’s surveillance functions, it said.

Ahead of the polls in Tamil Nadu, a number of outfits — established, nascent and unknown — have emerged from the shadows with a claim to transfer their captive, caste-based votes for respect, recognition and other benefits.

The power of this transferable vote share has been exhibited best by the Pattali Makkal Katchi, a party of the numerically strong most backward class (MBC) Vanniyar community and founded by Dr S Ramadoss. They comprise nearly 30 per cent of the population. The community has leaders in all parties, yet the poor among its members remain so.

The social outfit Vanniyar Sangam was born in 1980, and from it the PMK was formed nine years later. Though its vote share has remained single digit, the party has two advantages: its votes are considered transferable en bloc, and its votes are concentrated, in the north.

Also dominant in these districts is the Dalit party Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, led by Thol Thirumavalavan, MP. The party, earlier known as Dalit Panthers of India, has considerable influence among the Paraya sub-sect of Dalits, and was involved in a series of communal clashes with the Vanniyars. Now that both are in the DMK-led alliance, their leaders have made the right noises about working towards the same goal.

Ads by Google Coal Price Report What will the price of Coal be doing in the future? Free report.MoneyMorning.com/CoaLocal Coupons 1 ridiculously huge coupon a day. Get 50-90% off your city’s best!www.Groupon.comFly US – India @ $729 Get Cheap AirFares to India Only With MakeMyTrip™. Book Now & Save!us.makemytrip.com/Sp

The PMK is contesting from 30 seats and the VCK from 10. In the west, known as Kongu region, which the DMK has failed to conquer yet, it has brought in the Kongunadu Munnetra Kazhagam, a new party formed by the influential Gounders. Stitched together as a political outfit merely months ahead of the general elections, the KMK still garnered 5.79 lakh votes from 12 constituencies. The DMK has allocated it seven seats, getting in return the support of a community that forms about 40 per cent of the region’s population.

To gain the support of the Thevars, a dominant community in the south, the ruling front has Muvendar Munnetra Kazhagam, conceding one Assembly seat that will be contested on the DMK symbol.

Most of the DMK’s partnerships have been countered with equal and opposite moves by the lead opposition party, the AIADMK.

The Thevars have largely sided with the AIADMK since the period of party founder M G Ramachandran, an allegiance that was cemented after present general secretary J Jayalalithaa’s close aide Sasikala, a member of the community, became a decision-making figure in the party.

Besides this, the front has the All India Muvendar Munnani Kazhagam, a Thevar party that has been allotted one seat. A splinter group of the MMK has also sided with her, while yet another Thevar organisation, Pasumpon Desiya Kazhagam, has extended support.

The All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi (AISMK) floated by actor-politician Sarathkumar got two seats from the AIADMK as it has the backing of the Nadar community. Soon after the deal was signed in the opposition camp, the DMK president allotted one seat (on a DMK ticket) to the little known Perunthalaivar Makkal Katchi which claims support of the same community.

Perunthalaivar is a sobriquet of legendary late Congress leader K Kamaraj — the national party still enjoys support from the Nadars.

After the PMK changed its alliance for yet another time — following the Lok Sabha disaster where it won none of the seven seats it contested along with the AIADMK — a rival group, Vanniyar Federation, moved closer to Jaya’s party.

Incidentally, minister of state S Jagathrakshakan merged his Jananayaga Munnetra Kazhagam with the DMK before the general election, a move that helped him return to Parliament. He defeated the PMK’s R Velu.

If the VCK can help bring in Dalit votes to the ruling front in the north, the opposition front has Puthiya Thamizhagam, a party of another sub-sect of Dalits, the Pallars who represent several votes in the south. The party has been allotted two seats.

With only three weeks left for polling, Jaya has got the support of a confederation of Dalit outfits which includes Parayar Peravai, Dr Ambedkar Peravai, Ambedkar Makkal Padai, a faction of BSP, Adidravidar Puratchi Kazhagam, Dalit Makkal Munnani among others.

Compared to its rival, the AIADMK is in a better position in the Kongu region, which was evident from its lack of enthusiasm to rope in the KMK. Instead, when the DMK struck a deal with the KML, Jaya’s side responded by giving the Tamil Nadu Ilaignar Kongu Peravai one seat.

A coalition of community-based organisations has been newly floated to challenge the two fronts. On board are the Indian Jananayaka Katchi launched by education entrepreneur T R Pachamuthu and backed by his community; Bhargava Kula Vellalar; Tamizhaga Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (TMMK) of Dalit leader John Pandian who converted his Devendrakula Velalar Munettra Kazhagam into the party; Yadava Maha Sabha; Tamil Nadu Vaaniyar Chettiyar Peravai; and newly-formed Samooga Samathuva Padai founded by former bureaucrat and Dalit activist A Sivagami who quit the BSP.

There are also caste-based organisations like Dalit outfit Puratchi Bharatham and Muthiraiyar community-backed Singa Tamilar Munnetra Kazhagam, not part of any front yet.

Among religious groups, the Indian Union Muslim League, a UPA partner, has been allotted three seats; their intra-community opponent, Manithaneya Makkal Katchi got a similar deal from AIADMK.

A new entrant is the Indian Christian People’s Party (ICPP), launched on Sunday by Archbishop of Madras-Mylapore A M Chinnappa. For the record, there already exists an All India Christian Makkal Katchi.

Whether the tie-ups would help is anybody’s guess. For instance, a decade ago, Karunanidhi had cobbled up an alliance comprising 18 outfits, both political and casteist, but had to sit in Opposition as the citizens preferred to vote against his government rather than in favour of their community organisations.

Although the Commonwealth Games ended more than five months ago, owners of around 400 apartments in the Games village have still not got possession of the flats they have already paid for.

“After paying 95 per cent of the flat cost, no one in the government or Emaar-MGF (the developer) is giving us any indication on the timing of the possession of the flats,” said a flat owner.

The owners of these flats say that according to the Project Development Agreement, which was signed between the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and Emaar-MGF, the apartments were to be handed over by the DDA to Emaar-MGF within two months of the Games and subsequently to the owners. However, five months since the Games, there appears to be no sign of when they will be allotted their flats.

“Emaar-MGF has informed us that they can give possession only after getting handover from DDA. However, due to the financial disputes with DDA, we are not confident that the builder is doing its best to resolve its disputes and give us a timely possession,” said a flat owner.

When contacted, Emmar-MGF said in an email response, “The flats were to be handed over to Emaar-MGF by DDA within two months after the completion of the Games, however, despite several reminders to DDA we are still awaiting the handover from them.”

The spokesperson of the DDA, Neemo Dhar said: “The flats have not been handed over to Emaar-MGF because the completion certificate has not been prepared.” She further added that “there is no time-frame” by which the DDA would be able to complete these formalities.

Emaar-MGF, under a private-public partnership with DDA, had won the contract to develop 1,168 flats. The company had hoped to sell 70 per cent (778) of these and to use the cash from the sale to finance the construction. However, because of the global recession, Emaar was unable to sell all the flats and had to be bailed out by DDA. As part of the bailout, DDA purchased 333 of the flats for Rs 700 crore at the rate of Rs 11,000 per sq ft. Later, DDA seized Emaar’s entire bank guarantee amounting to Rs 183 crore as damages for its failure to complete the Commonwealth Games village project in time.

Meanwhile, the owners are caught in the crossfire because of the disputes between DDA and Emaar-MGF.

“Emaar-MGF says DDA has not returned the possession to them, which is the cause of the delay. I am paying an EMI of Rs 2.5 lakh and I don’t know when I will get possession of my apartment,” said Vikas Kapoor, who owns a flat in the Games village.

Another owner V Vasu said, “I sold an existing house to raise money for buying this flat, but now because of the delay I am forced to live in a rented apartment. The delay is also causing damage to the building, as there is no maintenance.”

It would seem that disappointment or controversy is never too far away from India’s energy sector. The recent admission by the Union ministry of power that even the ‘revised’ target of 62,000 MW for the 11th five year plan (the initial plan target was 78,000 MW) would be missed by 20 per cent, while disappointing, barely surprised those familiar with the Power Ministry’s record of meeting set targets. A recent report by The Energy Research Institute (TERI) pricks the sanguine belief, widely held, about India’s limitless coal reserves, deemed adequate to support a significant proportion of India’s energy ambitions well into the next century. Total coal reserves in India are estimated to be of the order of 276 billion tonnes, of which 110 billion tonnes are ‘proven’ resources. These estimates are based on the Indian Standard Procedure (ISP), a time honoured practice to estimate all minerals, dating back to the 19th century. This, according to the authors of the study is the crux of the problem. In not adequately considering the techno-economic costs associated with extraction, the ISP tends to overestimate mineral reserves that can be feasibly mined. An alternative estimation method called the United Nations Framework Classification (UNFC) that was designed to overcome the limitations of the ISP has not been implemented, despite a government go-ahead in 2001. Adopting the UNFC methodology, would provide a more realistic estimate of India’s mineral endowment, which in turn would lead to appropriate policy responses.

The report’s logic is persuasive: if the marginal cost of extraction exceeds the price at which it can be sold, it would make little economic sense to do so, unless the government subsidises the difference. Some of India’s reserves are indeed in thickly-forested areas in states such as Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Chattisgarh. Even if the activist positions adopted by the Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF) were to be downplayed for the moment, getting the coal from pit to plant would require considerable investment in logistics and infrastructure, which even in a best-case scenario would be a gradual process. The central findings of the report are sobering for India’s energy policy. If present ISP-based estimates were discounted conservatively by 40 per cent, ‘proven’ reserves would come down by about 44 billion tonnes to about 66 billion tonnes. At present levels of consumption, they would suffice for 110 years. A dynamic forecast of the future supply-demand scenario would necessarily consider the higher demand as the Indian economy grows at approximately 9 per cent over the next two decades, as well as the potential of technology to access reserves currently classified as non-extractable.

India’s energy mix, which currently relies heavily on thermal power and is expected to do so in the foreseeable future makes it imperative that the findings of the report be treated seriously. For example, supply of coal from Coal India Limited (CIL) to power producers has been notoriously erratic. While this was ascribed to systemic inefficiencies, mainly in the form of inadequate infrastructure and transport networks, the TERI report might raise more fundamental questions about the reliability of CIL as a coal supplier, given that its actual reserves may be lower than stated. Coal imports, mainly in the form of high-grade thermal coal are already close to 25 per cent of total consumption. If the findings of the report are true, India might have to reconcile to imported coal becoming an even more important part of the total fuel mix in the foreseeable future. Forewarned is forearmed!

PTI Facing the possibility of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi assuming a leadership role at the national level, the State Department sanctioned meetings in 2006 at the level of the Mumbai Consul General. File photo

Confidential 2006 cable reveals complex calculations in the event of the Gujarat Chief Minister ‘making it to the national stage’; wants a clear message delivered on U.S. concerns over ‘human rights and religious freedom’

Having declined to engage with him at the ambassadorial level because of his role in the 2002 Gujarat communal violence and anti-Muslim pogrom, U.S. diplomats found themselves, in 2006, facing the possibility of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi assuming a leadership role at the national level. Conscious that the United States would have to deal with him at a later stage if he rose in stature on the national stage, the State Department evidently sanctioned meetings at the level of the Mumbai Consul General on the understanding that such interactions would also enable the U.S. to deliver a “clear message on human rights and religious freedom in Gujarat.”

In a cable dated November 2, 2006 (84043: confidential), the Consul General in Mumbai, Michael S. Owen, underscored the importance of interacting with Mr. Modi “whose B1/B2 visa we revoked in 2005, at the level of the Consul General” over the Chief Minister’s role in the 2002 communal violence. Such interaction, Mr. Owen said, “will also shield us from accusations of opportunism from the BJP that would invariably arise if we ignored Modi now but sought a dialogue with him in the likely event that he makes it to the national stage.”

On the basis of discussions with leaders of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Mumbai Consulate concluded that Mr. Modi had set his sights on national politics. Interestingly, many in the BJP leadership believed that the Gujarat Chief Minister was the “only person of the BJP’s many aspiring leaders who can reinvigorate the party and stop its further slide into oblivion.”

While there was no consensus on Mr. Modi’s chances for success at the national level, some in Delhi and Gujarat strongly felt that his rise was inevitable, Mr. Owen added.

The Mumbai Consulate’s 2,850-word assessment, which was cleared by the New Delhi Embassy before being cabled to the State Department, was carefully considered, nuanced, and telling. The disquisition could well form the core of an M.A. thesis in politics:

“If Modi does eventually get a national leadership role in the BJP in the foreseeable future, the USG [United States Government] will be obliged to decide how it wants to deal with a figure of national prominence whose B1/B2 we revoked. We believe it would dilute our influence to avoid Modi completely. If we waited to engage Modi after he attains national stature within India’s largest and most important opposition party, many in the BJP would likely view this as an opportunistic move and only deepen the suspicions cultivated by some BJP leaders in western India since the visa revocation.

“Since the riots of 2002, we have declined to engage Modi at the Ambassadorial level, but Mumbai Consul Generals have routinely sought meetings with Modi whenever they visited Ahmedabad. We will continue to seek such meetings at the level of the CG to emphasize that the USG does not have a formal no-contact policy… and to demonstrate to the BJP that we are interested in cultivating relationships with the party while it is in the opposition. Direct encounters with Modi will also enable us to deliver a clear message regarding USG concerns for the state of human rights and religious freedom in Gujarat.”

On Mr. Modi’s strengths as Chief Minister that could aid his national leadership ambitions, Mr. Owen’s analysis was: “Modi has successfully branded himself as a non-corrupt, effective administrator, as a facilitator of business in a state with a deep commercial culture, and as a no-nonsense, law-and-order politician who looks after the interests of the Hindu majority. Modi’s backers in the BJP now hope to convince the party leadership that he can use these positive traits to attract voters throughout India. Some BJP leaders believe, or hope, that voters will forget or forgive Modi’s role in the 2002 bloodshed, once they learn to appreciate his other qualities.”

Not ‘if’ but ‘when’

The Consul General quoted Harin Pathak, a BJP Member of Parliament from Gujarat, as saying that the BJP national leadership, and particularly former Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani, were convinced that only Mr. Modi could rejuvenate the party. Ram Madhav of the RSS also voiced similar views, “going so far as to say that Modi’s ascendancy is not a question of if but when, and the USG must start considering now how it will deal with Modi when he becomes head of the BJP and leads the party’s electoral campaign in the national elections scheduled for 2009.”

Mr. Owen also drew attention to what he saw as divergence between Mr. Modi’s public image and his private actions. “In public appearances, Modi can be charming and likeable. By all accounts, however, he is an insular, distrustful person who rules with a small group of advisors. This inner circle acts as a buffer between the Chief Minister and his cabinet and party. He reigns more by fear and intimidation than by inclusiveness and consensus, and is rude, condescending and often derogatory to even high level party officials. He hoards power and often leaves his ministers in the cold when making decisions that affect their portfolios.”

(This article is a part of the series “The India Cables” based on the US diplomatic cables accessed by The Hindu via Wikileaks.)

America is a superpower. However, America has not kept a balanced view over Indo-Pak relations. Havining kept a closer relationship with Pakistan for one or other reason, America has neglected a fast rising India. Part of this complex relationship can be blamed on India’s attitude also. Since Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru’s declared stand on the so called non-alignment movement and much closer relationship with such communist countries as USSR, China and Cuba, America has kept India at a distance. Times have changed. America is fast losing her economic superpower status. America needs all the help from whichever national party is in power. However, the leaked cable suggests a very superficial attempt at establishing direct, face-to-face contact with Narendra Modi, a much adored Hindutva poster boy. He may be a wonderkind to some of the saffronites for whatever reasons but has no national stature. His personality is pompous, acerbic and threatening to the general population. Especially to the minority segments. He has used all his cunning, power and charisma to interefere in a due process of law to avoid a direct link between Godhra carnage. Not proven guilty by state judiciary, highly manipulated by him personally, does not mean he is not guilty. All dictators have used his techniques all over the world. America is famous for having an excellent relationship with dictators of all sizes, shapes and colors. Perhaps, they wanted to test the saffron waters for a change.

…and I am Sid Harth

News » The India Cables » The Cables

March 22, 201184043: Modi sets his eyes on national politics

Direct encounters with Modi will also enable us to deliver a clear message regarding USG concerns for the state of human rights and religious freedom in Gujarat.

1. (C) Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has his sights on national politics. Everyone we spoke to during a recent trip to Ahmedabad told us that Modi will use an expected state election victory next year to make a bid for the national presidency of the BJP. RSS and BJP leaders in Delhi echo these sentiments. Many in the party leadership believe that Modi is the only person of the BJP’s many aspiring leaders who can reinvigorate the party and stop its further slide into oblivion. No one doubts that Modi will be reelected as Chief Minister of Gujarat in elections scheduled for late 2007, since he remains immensely popular among Gujarat’s largely Hindu voters. Modi has successfully branded himself as a non-corrupt, effective administrator, as a facilitator of business in a state with a deep commercial culture, and as a no-nonsense, law-and-order politician who looks after the interests of the Hindu majority. Modi’s backers in the BJP now hope to convince the party leadership that he can use these positive traits to attract voters throughout India. Some BJP leaders believe, or hope, that voters will forget or forgive Modi’s role in the 2002 bloodshed, once they learn to appreciate his other qualities. Views differ in Gujarat on whether Modi can overcome his negative baggage to assume a national role. Some think that the memory of 2002 will turn off voters. Others say his arrogant and blunt leadership style will alienate the BJP hierarchy in New Delhi as it has in Ahmedabad, or that Modi’s lower caste origins could become an obstacle at the national level.

2. (C) Against this backdrop of opinions, we believe that Modi’s rise in the BJP seems likely. In coordination with Embassy New Delhi, we intend to continue our policy of interaction with the Chief Minister, whose B1/B2 visa we revoked in 2005, at the level of the Consul General. Since 2002, Mumbai Consul Generals have routinely sought meetings with Modi whenever they visited Ahmedabad. Such interaction allows us to deliver a clear message on human rights and religious freedom directly to the source. It will also shield us from accusations of opportunism from the BJP that would invariably arise if we ignored Modi now but sought a dialogue with him in the likely event that he makes it to the national stage. End summary and comment.

Modi Sets Sights on National Politics

————————————-

3. (SBU) Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi remains immensely popular among the state’s non-Muslim voters. Everyone we spoke to during an Oct. 7-8 trip to Ahmedabad predicted that Modi would easily win the next state elections, scheduled for late 2007. Views differ only on how large his victory will be.

4. (C) Our interlocutors were also unanimous in their belief that Modi has already set his sights on national politics. Modi hopes to use an electoral success as a springboard into the national BJP leadership, we heard repeatedly. The BJP national leadership, and particularly former deputy prime minister L.K. Advani, were convinced that only Modi could rejuvenate the party, Gujarat MP and BJP politician Harin Pathak told us. According to our interlocutors, Advani and former law minister Aroon Jaitley are the biggest Modi votaries in the central leadership, as no other clear successor to the party’s aging leadership is in sight, and Modi’s relative youth and obvious leadership talents are attracting more attention at the party center. The RSS’s Ram Madhav told Embassy New Delhi the same thing, going so far as to say that Modi’s ascendancy is not a question of if but when, and the USG must start considering now how it will deal with Modi when he becomes head of the BJP and leads the party’s electoral campaign in the national elections scheduled for 2009.

5. (C) Separately, Piyush Goyal, General Secretary for the BJP

MUMBAI 00001986 002 OF 005

in Maharashtra, said the BJP leadership is convinced that Modi can appeal to wide segments of Indian voters outside of Gujarat, and that his role in the 2002 bloodshed will not necessarily damage his popularity. Goyal said many within the BJP believe that Modi has the potential to become Prime Minister, and that voters may forget 2002 once the Chief Minister’s other qualities become widely known. The attributes that have made Modi so popular in Gujarat are the qualities that the BJP would use at the national level as well, Goyal said.

Modi the Administrator

———————-

6. (C) Most BJP insiders tell us that Gujarat’s voters like Modi because he has successfully branded himself as an effective administrator and a pro-business, no-nonsense, law-and-order politician. Supporters and critics alike acknowledge that Modi is an effective administrator. He has successfully cultivated the image of a clean politician who has reduced corruption in public life in Gujarat. Views differ on how clean and non-corrupt Modi actually is, however. All our interlocutors acknowledge that Modi is a modest man who, unlike many elected officials in India, has not used his position to enrich himself or his family. Most contacts also say that he has purged the state administration of petty corruption at the mid- and lower levels of the bureaucracy. However, several people tell us that big ticket corruption is still common. Journalist Javed Rahmatullah claimed that Reliance Industries Ltd. (RIL) paid a large bribe for permission to expand its refinery in Jamnagar. The money went into the BJP’s party coffers, Rahmatullah claimed, and not to Modi or any other individual. Other contacts have told us that business money flows to the BJP in Gujarat, but nobody had been this specific. We have been unable to verify Rahmatullah’s claim.

Modi and Business

—————–

7. (SBU) Modi’s supporters claim that the state’s economy has flourished under his leadership. They cite the state’s annual growth rate of around nine percent, 15 percent growth in industrial production, sizable public investment in infrastructure and Gujarat’s top ranking among Indian states as a destination for domestic investment. Among the five state governments in our Consular district, the GOG is the most visibly active in its attempts to attract investment, both domestic and foreign. One state agency recently supported a road show to the U.S. aimed at attracting foreign investment. The GOG is aggressively promoting special economic zones (SEZs) as a means to create new jobs and modernize infrastructure in the state.

8. (SBU) Modi’s pro-business stance has won over the state’s large business and trader community. Most businessmen say Modi has created a positive business climate in the state. Under Modi’s leadership, red tape has been reduced, and most government officials support business rather than act as an obstacle to it, we hear repeatedly.

9. (SBU) The economic reality of Gujarat, however, may be far more complex than the ebullient statements of Modi’s supporters suggest. Although Gujarat tops all Indian states in terms of investment intentions, actual investment is far less, and certainly less than the neighboring state of Maharashtra. Despite the presence of a few well-known international companies, FDI flows into the state are relatively small. Gujarat received less than four percent of the FDI coming into India in the past five years (Note: Delhi and Maharashtra, the top two FDI destinations, got 28 percent and 22 percent respectively. End Note) Ahmedabad does not have the visible construction activity, and increasingly noticeable foreign presence, of Pune in neighboring Maharashtra, for example. Many Gujaratis will say that the state is still not sufficiently known abroad. Some contacts are confident that investment will increase in tandem with growing awareness of Gujarat’s business climate spawned by the GOG’s aggressive marketing. Other sources were far less sanguine, and argue that the stain of the 2002 riots and the poor human rights record of its leadership continue to deter foreign companies fearful of further communal

MUMBAI 00001986 003 OF 005

violence. Arvind Agarwal, GOG Industries Commissioner, conceded to us that the riots continue to negatively influence images of the state abroad.

Modi, Law-and-Order and Hindutva

——————————–

10. (C) Modi has successfully cultivated the image of a no-nonsense, law-and order politician among Gujarat voters. This image of Modi as a strong, decisive leader is what his BJP supporters hope will help him establish a foothold at the national level.

11. (C) Modi’s role in the 2002 bloodshed continues to divide Gujaratis and Indians in general. While he remains repugnant to large numbers of people, particularly Muslims, human rights activists and educated urbanites with liberal or leftist leanings, many in the Hindu majority view his actions in 2002 favorably. Negative attitudes towards Muslims remain firmly anchored among Gujarati Hindus. Many feel that they, and not the Muslim minority, are the true second class citizens of India. Muslims often “”stepped out of line,”" prior to 2002, we often hear, demanding and receiving exceptional treatment by politicians who felt the need to placate them on the basis of perceived injustices carried out by the Hindu majority. That changed when Modi came into power in 2002, they say. While no one will openly condone the bloodshed of 2002, many Gujarati Hindus feel that Modi “”put Muslims into their place.”" The BJP continues to echo these themes in its national political stance, especially over issues such as Hajj subsidies, the Muslim civil code, the singing of Vande Mataram, or other such religiously sensitive concerns.

12. (C) Modi continues to support a Hindutva agenda in the state, with the recent passage of amendments to the state’s anti-conversion law (ref A) being seen as a concession to his supporters on the Hindu right. Both supporters and critics of Modi confirm that the state government continues to use administrative tools to marginalize and ghettoize the Muslim minority.

13. (C) At the same time, most interlocutors tell us that Modi cannot gain anything more by openly pursuing an aggressive Hindutva agenda. He already has the backing of those who applaud his firm stand against Muslims, and he risks alienating swing voters in Gujarat by being too openly communal. Modi understands that, outside of Gujarat, his role in the 2002 riots has damaged both his reputation and that of the state. He also realizes that outbreaks of communal violence in Gujarat will harm both his chances in the state and nationally, and hence he has given law enforcement agencies clear instructions to act swiftly if violence breaks out, we have been told. Several interlocutors cited Modi’s rapid reaction to the communal rioting in Vadodara in May (ref B) as proof of his new strategy. Modi allowed federal army troops to establish order, and he even visited hospitalized Muslim victims of the riots in an attempt to portray himself as a leader of all Gujaratis.

Modi’s Leadership Style

———————–

14. (C) Views remain divided on whether Modi’s leadership style will help or harm him if he enters national politics. In public appearances, Modi can be charming and likeable. By all accounts, however, he is an insular, distrustful person who rules with a small group of advisors. This inner circle acts as a buffer between the Chief Minister and his cabinet and party. He reigns more by fear and intimidation than by inclusiveness and consensus, and is rude, condescending and often derogatory to even high level party officials. He hoards power and often leaves his ministers in the cold when making decisions that affect their portfolios. His abrasive leadership style alienated much of the state BJP leadership in 2005. He was able to quell their subsequent rebellion by branding them as corrupt opportunists who were angry because he denied them the tools of political patronage and corruption (ref C). Modi maintains the support of most MLAs in the state because they understand his popularity with voters. His leadership style has created many enemies within the state party, however. This opposition could

MUMBAI 00001986 004 OF 005

come back to haunt him at the national level, some critics hope. In any case there is consensus that Modi has failed to attract a sustainable, loyal cadre of followers within the state party, and that his few confidants will likely be pushed out of power and influence if and when Modi leaves the state for New Delhi. At the national stage, he will have to depend on opportunists who want to latch onto his bandwagon, some believe.

Modi and Caste

————–

15. (C) Caste resentments exacerbate the bad feelings between Modi and much of the state party’s leadership. Modi heralds from a so-called Other Backward Caste (OBC), while many of his opponents are from higher castes, and in particular from the Patel caste that dominates public life in the state. The Chief Minister is openly distrustful of the higher-caste party officials around him, yet is careful not to make caste an issue since he seeks the support of the Gujarati commercial class, most of whom are Patels or other higher castes. Gujarat Congress spokesman Himanshu Vyas told us his party hopes to play the caste card in the 2007 elections to divide Modi’s support among Hindus, yet none of our other interlocutors believed that caste issues could endanger a Modi victory at the polls. Some believe, however, that Modi’s lower caste status could create problems for him in national politics.

Econoff’s Unscheduled Meeting with the Chief Minister

——————————————— ——–

16. (C) The USG has not met Modi since his B1/B2 visa was revoked in 2005, yet Embassy Econoff had an unscheduled courtesy call with the Chief Minister on the margins of our recent visit to Gujarat. While paying a personal visit to a family friend who works in Modi’s office, she was quickly whisked through the several perimeters of security surrounding the Chief Minister and introduced to Modi himself. Modi was pleasant and, conversing only in Gujarati, asked her the purpose of the USG visit to the state (Note: The local edition of the Times of India speculated earlier that day why USG officials were in Gujarat and indicated they might be on a “”secret”" mission. End note) After Econoff clarified the purpose of the visit to meet with contacts to assess Gujarat’s political, economic, and social environment, Modi seemed surprised that U.S. officials would travel to Gujarat, saying the USG had warned the state is “”unsafe.”" Econoff responded by stressing that while the USG has serious concerns about human rights and religious freedom, we do not restrict visitors or opportunities for U.S. companies to invest in Gujarat. Modi also asked what our contacts said about the current state of human rights and religious freedom in Gujarat. Econoff replied that the opinions were mixed.

Comment

——-

17. (C) Modi’s dominance of Gujarat politics is likely to continue for now, and by all accounts he should get reelected easily next year. Among our contacts, there is not yet a consensus on Modi’s chances for success at the national level, but some feel strongly in Delhi and Gujarat that his rise is inevitable. If Modi does eventually get a national leadership role in the BJP in the foreseeable future, the USG will be obliged to decide how it wants to deal with a figure of national prominence whose B1/B2 we revoked. We believe it would dilute our influence to avoid Modi completely. If we waited to engage Modi after he attains national stature within India’s largest and most important opposition party, many in the BJP would likely view this as an opportunistic move and only deepen the suspicions cultivated by some BJP leaders in western India since the visa revocation. Since the riots of 2002, we have declined to engage Modi at the Ambassadorial level, but Mumbai Consul Generals have routinely sought meetings with Modi whenever they visited Ahmedabad. We will continue to seek such meetings at the level of the CG to emphasize that the USG does not have a formal no-contact policy (Note: The CG requested a meeting during his initial visit to Gujarat in 2005, but Modi was traveling that day), and to demonstrate to the BJP that we are interested in cultivating relationships with the party while it

MUMBAI 00001986 005 OF 005

is in the opposition. Direct encounters with Modi will also enable us to deliver a clear message regarding USG concerns for the state of human rights and religious freedom in Gujarat. End comment.

CHENNAI, March 22, 2011Caste politics at work in GujaratSarah Hiddleston

Modi holds his friends close, his enemies even closer

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi used “caste resentments” to “tighten his grip on power,” after his “autocratic leadership style” provoked consternation in the Bharatiya Janata Party and forced an expansion of his Cabinet in 2005, the U.S. Consulate in Mumbai reported.

The August 10, 2005 cable (38300: confidential; only partial extract accessible), which was issued under the name of Public Affairs Section Director Linda C. Cheatham days after the expansion, took a close look at its timing and the allocation of portfolios.

Mr. Modi’s moves, the cable explained, were the result of a direction from BJP president Lal Krishna Advani following criticism from party members. According to the cable, “Modi consented under the condition that the BJP appoint a state party president loyal to him. In early June, Advani kept his part of the bargain when the BJP appointed Vajubhai Vala as Gujarat BJP president.”

The Gujarat Chief Minister made the most of the development, the cable said, explaining that he “ingeniously weakened his critics by only appearing to devolve some power to them and by securing pledges of loyalty.”

The cable noted: “Many contacts, including journalists Anosh Malekar and Uday Mahurkar as well as BJP official Pankaj Mudholkar, told us that none of the new ministers will have any significant policy-making clout or sizable budgets that can be diverted for political patronage. The newcomers received departments such as women and child welfare, employment guarantee and fisheries. The CM and his core supporters still control the most important portfolios, such as Home, Finance, Industry, Irrigation and Rural Development.”

“Modi timed the expansion of the cabinet,” the Mumbai Consulate cable pointed out “to take advantage of the absence of the leader of the rebels, former Gujarat chief minister Keshubhai Patel. Patel is currently in the U.S., where his wife is undergoing medical treatment. Modi reportedly focused on two influential Patel supporters and enticed them to join his cabinet under conditions that Patel himself would probably never have supported.”

The Consulate’s reading was that Mr. Modi appeared to “be using the cabinet expansion to change the power equation among castes.”

The cable elaborated: “Tensions between the sizeable, landowning and better-off Patel caste and … ‘Other Backward Castes’ (OBC) have long simmered in Gujarat’s politics. Modi belongs to a small and economically weak OBC group…Our contacts tell us nine of the 11 new cabinet members are from the OBC grouping. They are also drawn evenly from all regions of Gujarat. Having effectively manipulated religious strife to strengthen his power base during and after the 2002 riots in Gujarat, Modi is now using caste/class resentments within Hinduism to tighten his grip, many of our contacts believe.”

The Mumbai Consulate surmised that the refusal of BJP MLA (and a VHP member) Govardhan Zhadapia to take the Cabinet posting offered to him, and the appointment of Purushottam Solanki, wanted by the Mumbai police for “extortion,” could potentially alienate both VHP and urban middle class voters.

However, the confidential cable concluded that “in a BJP beset by internal struggles, Mr. Modi’s revival sets him up nicely to influence the king making when the time comes.” In fact, he seemed “stronger than at any time since the rebels took their opposition public” — indeed a “force to be reckoned with.”

(This article is a part of the series “The India Cables” based on the US diplomatic cables accessed by The Hindu via Wikileaks.)

The Hindu The Ministry of External Affairs made a pitch for restoring Narendra Modi’s U.S. visa. Photo: P.V. Sivakumar

UPA government, having “gone through the motions” by protesting, was “unlikely to ratchet up the pressure further”; Modi’s “America bashing has made many” in the Congress and the BJP “nervous”

Sometimes, diplomacy is more about keeping up appearances than about achieving concrete results.

After India urged the United States in March 2005 to reconsider its decision to revoke the visa of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, the U.S. Embassy made an action request to Washington seeking a “review” of the case. However, the ‘action request’ cable of March 18, 2005 (29140: confidential) also had a revealing accompanying note: “Post does not expect any change, but would appreciate a cable telling the GOI [Government of India] we took a fresh look and decided to maintain our decision.”Grave concern

The cable was sent by the New Delhi Embassy under the name of Ambassador David Mulford after India’s Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran called the Deputy Chief of Mission in the Embassy, Robert O. Blake, to his office on March 18, 2005 to express India’s “grave concern” over the revocation of Mr. Modi’s visa.

Evidently, the Embassy’s only interest in sending the ‘action request’ cable to the State Department was the diplomatic and political necessity of responding to Mr. Saran on March 19, 2005, the day Mr. Modi was to travel to the United States.

During the meeting with Mr. Blake, Mr. Saran characterised the U.S. decision on Mr. Modi’s visa as “uncalled for” and as a display of a “lack of courtesy and sensitivity.” The Foreign Secretary conveyed that the refusal had already “incited a controversy and threatened to spark just the kind of divisiveness the US alleges Modi himself facilitated.”

Reporting on the meeting, the confidential cable said: “Saran argued to the DCM that the USG [United States Government] had made a decision based on opinion, an opinion that even some in India hold. That opinion, however, is a separate issue from the fact that Modi is a constitutionally-mandated office holder whose position derives from the people. Saran argued that the US as a democracy would appreciate this, and argued that the dignity of the office of Chief Minister cannot be overridden. Calling the USG determination that Modi had failed to act in Gujarat during the 2002 riots a ‘subjective judgment,’ Saran suggested that perhaps Washington had not considered that this was a separate issue in the Indian mind.”

While appreciating the importance that the United States government attached to religious freedom, Mr. Saran cautioned that this determination could have an effect opposite from that intended: “a strong emotional reaction which had the potential to polarise the Indian people.” This, he noted, would not be in the interest of religious harmony, or shared U.S. and Indian objectives.

Highlighting the political ramifications, Mr. Saran said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was “up in arms.” The incident, he added, might “open up an odd type of standard to give or not give visas.”

On his part, Mr. Blake explained to Mr. Saran the two parts of the U.S. decision – the refusal of the A2, and the revocation of the B1/B2, “highlighting that we had acted in accordance with our own law and democratic constitution.” The U.S., he told the Foreign Secretary, had taken into consideration independent reports, including that of India’s own National Human Rights Commission. “The decision was not taken capriciously, but involved many people in Washington.”‘Position deteriorating’

Another cable sent three days later (29231: confidential), also under the name of Ambassador Mulford, reported that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, after having “gone through the motions” by protesting the U.S. decision, was “unlikely to ratchet up the pressure further.”

The New Delhi Embassy’s reading of the situation, even if it was arguable on Mr. Modi’s “position deteriorating” in the national leadership stakes, must have reassured the State Department: “Congress has long viewed Modi as a vulnerable target and will, at the appropriate time, use the visa incident as further ammunition against him. Both Congress and the BJP particularly value the US-India relationship and Modi’s America bashing has made many nervous. Both parties will likely move to ensure that the negative impact on the relationship from this incident is minimal. With Modi’s position deteriorating, the BJP leadership could decide to quietly push him aside at the appropriate time. This could become a further liability for [BJP president L.K.] Advani, who [was] the senior party leader most visibly supporting Modi.”

The Embassy cable also reported that in private conversations with American diplomats, “Indians have expressed overwhelming support for the US decision.” Initial shock at the denial was now turning to embarrassment and “Modi harmed himself by making vitriolic anti-American statements that are not resonating well.” One former Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation, the cable said, told DCM that “Ninety five percent of India stands with you.”

(This article is a part of the series “The India Cables” based on the US diplomatic cables accessed by The Hindu via Wikileaks.)

AP EYES WIDE SHUT: While the State looked on, 790 Muslims and 254 Hindus were killed, and 223 more people were reported as missing in over four weeks of rioting. A 2002 file photograph of rioters in Ahmedabad.

When an American diplomat raised the horrific Gujarat communal violence of 2002 with Chief Minister Narendra Modi in November 2006, he got more than what he had bargained for: a lecture on the “horrific human rights violations” by the United States.

Michael S. Owen, Consul General in Mumbai, was the diplomat at the receiving end of Mr. Modi’s tirade during a November 16, 2006 meeting in Gandhinagar. This was the first such meeting since the March 2005 revocation of Mr. Modi’s U.S. visa on account of his role in the 2002 communal violence in Gujarat — in which (according to an official ministerial statement made in Parliament in 2005) 790 Muslims and 254 Hindus were killed, and 223 more people were reported as missing. The genocidal attack on Muslims by mobs of Hindu extremists and fanatics followed the burning of a coach of the Sabarmati Express by a local mob of Muslim extremists and fanatics at Godhra on February 27, 2002. The coach was carrying kar sevaks returning from Ayodhya. The police failed to quell the post-Godhra anti-Muslim pogrom that went on for several weeks, which lent credence to reports of state complicity in the violence. Mr. Modi was questioned on March 27, 2010 by the Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team headed by R.K. Raghavan, former Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation, in connection with the Gujarat riots.

In a revealing Mumbai Consulate cable, which was sent on November 27, 2006 to the State Department and copied to an interesting selection of U.S. embassies, consulates, and other destinations (87085: confidential), Mr. Owen recounted what followed after “a relaxed” Chief Minister had given him “a glowing overview of his Government’s achievements in building infrastructure and promoting economic growth in Gujarat” and he had responded appropriately. The Consul General then moved on to a taboo subject, an issue that Mr. Modi evidently considered to be none of his business: “while we are very pleased with our business and people to people relations with Gujarat, we remain concerned about communal relations within the state. In particular, we remain concerned that nobody has yet been held accountable for the horrific communal violence of 2002, and are further concerned that an atmosphere of impunity could lead to a further deterioration of communal relations. What is the Government of Gujarat’s view on this, he asked.”‘Modi visibly annoyed’

“A visibly annoyed Modi,” the Consul General reported to the State Department, “responded at considerable length.” The Chief Minister, he said, made three essential points: “the events of 2002 were an internal Gujarati matter and the U.S. had no right to interfere; the U.S. is itself guilty of horrific human rights violations (he specified Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo, and attacks on Sikhs in the U.S. after September 11) and thus has no moral basis to speak on such matters, and; Muslims are demonstrably better off in Gujarat than in any other state in India, so what is everybody griping about?”

Mr. Owen correctly pointed out that it was not only the U.S. that was concerned with this issue. “The Indian National Human Rights Commission report itself cited ‘a comprehensive failure on the part of the state Government’ to prevent the violence of 2002. We are reflecting a broad cross section of opinion that no one has been held accountable for the violence and that consequently a climate of impunity is developing. Secondly, Abu Ghraib is precisely the point: Americans can also commit human rights violations but when they do we have a clear procedure to investigate, prosecute, and punish those guilty of wrongdoing. This is what we and others would like to see in Gujarat.”

To this, “Modi grumbled that the Indian National Human Rights Commission was biased and its reports wildly inaccurate. More broadly, he claimed, the U.S. relied far too much on ‘a few fringe NGOs’ that don’t know the real picture and have an axe to grind. In any event, if officials are guilty of wrongdoing, then it is up to the courts to prosecute and punish them, and the Chief Minister could not interfere with the judicial process.”

The Consul General reacted that it had been well over four years since the violence occurred and nobody had been sanctioned; this gave little confidence that anyone would ultimately be held accountable. “Modi noted (accurately, alas) that the culprits in the 1993 Mumbai bombings are only now being sentenced, so we should not have ‘unrealistic expectations’.”‘Evasive, backtracked’

When the diplomat asked if there was in fact an active investigation of the Gujarat violence still under way, “Modi was evasive and backtracked to his claim that Muslims in Gujarat are better off than in any other state in India. He noted that the BJP had won big victories in recent local bodies elections in Muslim districts, and that a recent study had found literacy among Muslims was higher in Gujarat than in any other state. The 2002 violence had involved a ‘few miscreants’ and had been blown out of proportion by ‘fringe elements,’ he said. Communal relations in Gujarat are now excellent, he claimed.”

Mr. Owen responded that the U.S. acknowledged the many positive accomplishments of the Modi government, including economic growth and education: “These are to be applauded, but do not diminish in any way the importance of holding accountable those persons who are guilty of inciting or carrying out communal violence…failure to do so will create an atmosphere of impunity in which radical elements would feel emboldened in the future. He concluded by underlining that the U.S. Government considers human rights and religious freedom to be extremely important, and we will continue to monitor developments and engage his Government in these areas.” Mr. Modi, switching to an apparently more conciliatory note, allowed that he understood human rights and religious freedom to be important to the U.S. because “you people keep raising these issues all the time.” The meeting concluded with the Chief Minister saying” with a touch of irony that he hoped Consul General would return to Gujarat on a regular basis. ‘All Americans are always welcome in my state,’ he said.”

Consul General Owen’s concluding comment in the cable is: “Modi is clearly not going to apologize or back down on the violence of 2002, but we think it is vital for him to hear that we are not going to let the passage of time erase the memory of these events. Despite the chilly atmosphere of the meeting, Modi did take on board the message that human rights and religious freedom are important issues that we will continue to monitor carefully. We believe Sinhji’s comments on Modi are indeed accurate: ironically the man most hold accountable for the communal violence of 2002 may now be the most ardent defender of communal harmony, at least on the surface. It remains to be seen to what extent Gujarat’s economic boom will lead to genuinely improved communal relations over time.”

The reference is to an “interesting point” that former Congress party MP and former Minister of Environment Yuraj Digvijay Sinhji made to Mr. Owen: “The fact that Modi clearly has aspirations for national leadership makes him, ironically, one of the greatest protectors of communal harmony at this stage. Modi knows that another outbreak like 2002 would doom his chances, so he is going to be particularly zealous to ensure there are no further problems on his watch.”

But that was not all that Mr. Sinhji said in his lengthy meeting with the Consul General. “Asked whether Modi could become a national leader,” the Mumbai consulate-general cable relays to the State Department,” Sinhji (himself the scion of the princely Wankaner family and a Cambridge grad) sniffed that Modi ‘lacks the polish and refinement’ to become a national leader. But Sinhji raised another reason why Modi could face challenges in becoming a national leader: Modi’s reputation for being completely incorruptible is accurate, and if he were to become a national leader he would crack down on corruption throughout the BJP. There are too many BJP rank and file waiting to line their pockets once the BJP returns to power, Sinhji said, and the prospect of Modi cracking the whip on corruption is entirely unappealing to this crowd. Modi would have a hard time clearing this hurdle, according to Sinhji.”

(This article is a part of the series “The India Cables” based on the US diplomatic cables accessed by The Hindu via Wikileaks.)

AP WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange: “We want as much in the historical record about how governments and organisations actually behave. So we can use it to understand our world, adapt it and adjust to it and to engage in the democratic process. Without that we are sailing in the dark”. File photo

‘We are working with The Hindu because we have seen its good work. What we have seen in India is ‘an attempt to distort the record and fool the public about the nature of the material…If this cable on bribery is incorrect, the U.S. Ambassador in India has a lot to answer for. ‘‘There is no doubt whatsoever that the cables are authentic’

WikiLeaks Editor-in-Chief Julian Assange speaks to NDTV Chairman Prannoy Roy on the impact of WikiLeaks worldwide, the consequences, the challenges the network faces, the significance of the India Cables, the partnership with The Hindu, freedom of speech versus privacy, and why governments should be more open. Excerpts from the extended interview telecast on NDTV 24X7on March 21; this is published with permission from NDTV. The interview was conducted over a satellite link.

You are under global attack… Your home country, Australia, accuses you of treason. America wants to arrest you… In Sweden you have been accused of rape. The West prides itself on the rule of law and its institutions of justice. Are you shocked by the ferocity, and the illegalities, of the attacks on you?

I’m disappointed that the U.S. administration has decided to betray the traditions of the founding fathers, and those great traditions of Franklin and Madison. Now the Codified Bill of Rights has within it important protection for freedom… in the First Amendment. So that’s depressing. I would like to say that it is not shocking. We have been following the U.S. military for four, five years now, in this process of WikiLeaks. And in other countries. But we can see that there is a burgeoning security state that has spread out not just for Washington, because the centre of gravity is around there. It goes into all the Western countries, and there is a Western alliance that responds very aggressively. Previous publications have received some of that response. But it is really the size and the scale of the publication which has received [such a response], and been stimulating such aggressive attack.Egypt, Tunisia, safest

Now, with so many countries hunting you down, where can Julian Assange live safely…? In the end, do you think going to jail is inevitable for you?

Right now, it is not clear if there is any country that is safe for [us]… But we do have the will of the majority of the people. My friends in Egypt and Tunisia say that these two countries perhaps would be the safest for us now because of the revolution…

You have got the U.S. Vice President, Joe Biden, calling you a high-tech terrorist, a former Speaker saying you should be treated as an enemy combatant. Have you been threatened privately?

We do receive threats from time to time; there are many of them. But we do not take those threats too seriously. It is the people who are not making the threats and are concerned for us that are important.

You mentioned that the U.S. President is like the super-president of us all. In the recent leaks about India, the diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks, the overriding feature is America’s efforts to influence policies in India. Are you surprised at that, or was it expected?

Looking at what the U.S. has done with other countries, which we have revealed though these cables, it’s not at all a surprise, and it is their modus operandi. When I first started reading this material I thought, my god, everything those South American Marxists in the 1960s were complaining about in relati